ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston Opens New Sweet Potato Processing Plant

The plant will produce products for the Sweet Things line for foodservice, which includes sweet potato fries, wedges, puffs, as well as mashed sweet potatoes. The plant will also produce ALEXIA retail grocery brand sweet potato products.

Nov 8 2010 --- ConAgra Foods CEO Gary Rodkin joined Lamb Weston President Jeff DeLapp, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and others to commemorate the grand opening of ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston's new state-of-the art, environmentally friendly sweet potato processing plant in Delhi, La. Situated in a prime sweet potato growing region, the Delhi plant is uniquely equipped to process high-quality sweet potatoes, using cutting-edge proprietary processing and packaging technologies. The plant will produce products for the Sweet Things line for foodservice, which includes sweet potato fries, wedges, puffs, as well as mashed sweet potatoes. The plant will also produce ALEXIA retail grocery brand sweet potato products.

"The Delhi plant is the culmination of our decade-long experience with sweet potato processing technologies and product innovation," said DeLapp. "Today's official grand opening ribbon cutting celebrates the past year and a half of intense planning and construction, building our most sustainable plant to date. It is a singular accomplishment and true cornerstone of our continuing leadership in the industry."

"When ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston selected Louisiana for this new expansion last year, it was a major victory not only for Northeast Louisiana, but for our entire state," said Jindal. "Phase one of this project is already having a significant impact in terms of jobs, capital investment and revenues. ConAgra's new facility means we can develop our homegrown resources to help our farmers, create good jobs and produce high quality products for the world. Indeed major economic development wins like ConAgra Foods, along with many others that we have announced since entering office, are helping transform Louisiana into the nation's best place for businesses to invest, expand and create jobs for our people."

Official grand opening festivities will continue through Saturday, Nov. 6, with a community celebration at the Delhi National Guard Armory to show appreciation for the residents in Northeast Louisiana who have enthusiastically welcomed Lamb Weston to the area. The community celebration will include performances by local school groups and musical acts as well as renowned musicians Amanda Shaw, Chubby Carrier, David St. Romain and Darryl Worley. Rounding out the day will be kids activities and free sweet potato fries for all attendees.

Lamb Weston's Delhi plant is one of 20 Lamb Weston plants in the U.S., Canada and Europe, and the total Delhi plant project employs 275 people.

At the inception of the project, Rodkin said, "This significant investment is indicative of the big opportunity we see in our potato platform. Potatoes, including sweet potatoes, are a strategic priority for ConAgra Foods, and we are committed to expansion in this area. This new plant will further our North American leadership position in potatoes by supporting growth in an adjacent category, and add to our worldwide presence."