Arcadia poultry plant to expand

0 Comments | La Crosse Tribune, Jun 17, 1998

ARCADIA, Wis. -- Gold'n Plump Poultry of St. Cloud, Minn., announced Tuesday a $14 million expansion plan for its Arcadia operations that will increase production capacity there by 25 percent.

The work. to begin immediately and be completed by April 2001, is part of a $40 million expansion at Arcadia that started in 1993.

"The opening of the new feed mill last August completed our initial expansion phase, which created 200 new jobs in the area and increased our total employee base to 625," said Michael Helgeson, chief executive officer. "This next phase will increase the Arcadia operations' production capacity by 25 percent, or 27 million pounds, and allow us to fully utilize the new feed mill's full production capability."

The expansion involves adding 29 breeder/layer and broiler barns, bringing the total within a 30-mile radius to 158; adding innovative technology at the processing plant to increase processing capabilities and efficiency; and buying new equipment for receiving and transportation.

Gold'n Plump said the expansion is not expected to add any new jobs, but will secure the company's employment base and boost its overall strength and competitiveness.

With the addition of new barns, Helgeson said, more area growers will have a chance to diversify. Annual corn usage will increase by nearly a half-million bushels, to more than 4.2 million bushels, most of which is purchased locally.

Gold'n Plump contracts with growers to raise its poultry.