Tyson Foods Inc. subsidiary Hillshire Brands is upgrading its plant in Tarboro, North Carolina, the company announced Wednesday.
The $28 million capital improvement project will create nearly 100 jobs. Tyson Foods, the publicly traded meat producer based in Springdale, purchased Hillshire in 2014.
The expansion and upgrade is necessary to meet a growing demand for products, the company said.
“We’re glad to invest in our Tarboro plant, which will mean more jobs for the city,” said Wes Morris, president of prepared foods for Tyson Foods. “The existing infrastructure, location and availability of a qualified workforce make the plant ideal for this expansion project.”
The Tarboro plant produces croissants, biscuits, layer cakes, sheet cakes, muffins, pound cakes and cobblers. In addition to expanding capacity to produce more of these baked goods, the project will add lines for gluten-free and non-GMO waffles produced for retail customers, according to the release.
The expansion is being helped along by a grant of up to $300,000 from the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s “One North Carolina Fund.” The fund provides local governments with financial help to attract business projects that will “stimulate economic activity” and create new jobs.
Companies who receive the grant must meet job creation and investment performance standards, according to the department.
The Tarboro plant opened in 2000 as part of the Sara Lee Corp., which became Hillshire Brands in 2012. The facility currently employs almost 700 people with an annual payroll of more than $22.3 million. The Tyson Foods expansion is estimated to add about $3 million to the plant’s annual payroll.
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