Convenience food producer Amy’s Kitchen is planning to expand production capacity by acquiring Heinz's former site in Pocatello, Idaho.
The move in the wake of double-digit growth registered by the company in the past year.
The new plant will complement the company's long-term growth efforts initiated in Goshen, New York, as well as expansions in Medford, Oregon, and Santa Rosa, California.
Spread over an area of around 500,000ft2, the new plant will become operational by the year-end.
Idaho governor C.L. Butch Otter said: "Idaho is a world-renowned leader in food processing - not only as a result of our wide diversity of exceptional agricultural products, but largely due to our talented workforce with decades of experience in the industry.
"The reopening of this state-of the-art facility in Pocatello by a family-owned company that extends its family-style atmosphere to its employees is exciting news for both the community and the state."
Amy's will receive Idaho's new Tax Reimbursement Incentive (TRI) as it creates new jobs in the state. The company plans to hire 200 full-time, benefited employees initially and ramp up to over 1,000 employees during the 15-year term of the incentive.
Amy's currently offers over 250 foods including frozen entrees, meals and snacks, as well as candy bars, cookies, canned soups, jarred salsa and pasta sauce.
The company uses certified organic ingredients currently sourced from organic farms located mostly near the company's production facilities in California and Oregon.
All dairy ingredients are made with pasteurized rBST hormone-free milk and claim to be free from animal enzymes or animal rennet. All dishes are also claimed to be free from meat, fish, shellfish, poultry, eggs or peanuts.
Image: Amy's currently offers candy bars, cookies, canned soups, jarred salsa and pasta sauce.
