ConAgra Foods has announced that it would invest $200m to expand operations at its Lamb Weston’s facility in Richland, Washington, US.
The expansion will see an addition of a new french fry processing line at the plant.
While the company plans to start the construction of the plant soon, the planned capacity increase is expected to enable Lamb Weston to boost its global growth.
The expansion work is expected to be completed by the fall of 2017, with the new processing line increasing the facility's annual capacity by over 300 million pounds.
Besides, the company expects to create 128 full time jobs at the expanded facility.
Lamb Weston president Greg Schlafer said: "We have a tremendous opportunity to help our customers realize their global growth projections, but we need to make more french fries to do that.
"Investing in capabilities like this is indicative of the opportunity we see in potatoes, and our specific opportunity at Lamb Weston to lead the category."
Lamb Weston is already working with several officials and organizations in the Tri Cities and Washington for its expansion plans.
Built in 1972, Lamb Weston's existing facility in Richland employs nearly 500 people. It has several offices and facilities in the Tri Cities, including an Innovation Center in Richland, corporate offices in Kennewick, and two additional manufacturing facilities in Pasco.
In March, ConAgra's Lamb Weston announced to invest $30m to expand operations at its facility in Boardman, Oregon. The facility expansion was expected to result in 50 new jobs.
Earlier this week, ConAgra reached an agreement with Platinum Equity to sell its food ingredient sourcing and distribution company JM Swank for an undisclosed sum.
The sale of JM Swank is part of ConAgra's strategy to restructure its businesses as it struggles with poor demand for its products.
