Butterball Turkey hotline to stay for now ConAgra sells unit to Carolina company.(Business)

0 Comments | Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL), October, 2006 | by Comerford, Mike

Byline: Mike Comerford Daily Herald Business Writer Butterball Turkey was invented in Chicago in 1954 and has been headquartered in Naperville in recent years. The best-selling U.S. turkey, which had been owned by ConAgra Foods, is going to Mt. Olive, N.C.-based Carolina Turkeys in a deal valued at $325 million, to create newly named Butterball LLC, the largest turkey producer in the country.

It's a two-part deal. ConAgra is also selling Armour, Eckrich, Margherita, Longmont and LunchMakers in a deal with Smithfield Foods valued at $246 million. An Omaha, Neb.-based ConAgra spokeswoman said the approximately 100 jobs in Naperville will remain, as will the Butterball Turkey Talk Line. "With the exception of a couple people, most of them will be staying...