Pinnacle Foods is set to locate the production of its recently-acquired Wish-Bone salad dressings business at its manufacturing facility in St. Elmo, Illinois.
The company plans to invest $40m - $50m over the next 12 to 18 months for the expansion project. The project involves purchase of new equipment and improving existing infrastructure, and is expected to create 90 new jobs in the first half of 2015.
The US firm completed the take over of Wish-Bone and Western salad dressings business from Unilever in October 2013.
Pinnacle Foods stated that the St. Elmo site was identified as the best location for the integration due to its geographic location and proven expertise in liquid filling and processing.
The plant currently produces Pinnacle's Mrs. Butterworth's and Log Cabin syrups, and Open Pit barbecue sauces.
In support of the project, the company will receive grants from the state of Illinois and assistance from the city of St. Elmo and Fayette County.
Pinnacle Foods executive vice president and chief supply chain officer Tony Fernandez said that the efficiencies the company expect to generate in this new facility will enable it to invest to reinvigorate the iconic Wish-Bone brand.
"We would like to thank the state of Illinois, Fayette County and the city of St. Elmo for their support and help with our plans for this very important expansion," Fernandez added.
