HJ Heinz, a US-based food manufacturer, plans a $28m expansion project at its frozen food production facility in Masillon, Ohio, which would add 249 jobs.
The project comes on the heels of the company's announcement last week to close three of its North American plants as part of its cost-cutting initiative to increase efficiency.
The company stated that the Massillon plant will become a 'Frozen Food Center of Excellence.'
Heinz corporate and government affairs senior vice president Michael Mullen said, "Heinz is committed to Ohio and excited for the growth that will come to Massillon as part of this significant investment.
"We look forward to continued collaboration with Gov. Kasich and the State of Ohio as we further our leadership in the frozen food category of our business."
Spokesman Michael Mullen said that the company chose to expand in Massillon due to its central location and its need to consolidate its frozen food operations into a single North American Center of Excellence.
The company is set to receive a Massillon city income tax credit as well as state financial incentives for the expansion project.
Earlier this year, an investment consortium comprised of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway and private equity firm 3G Capital bought Heinz in a $28bn deal.
The new owners are restructuring the company's operations and have recently announced plans to eliminate 600 positions in the US and Canada and a further 600 in the UK and Ireland.
