USA – McCain Foods USA, leading frozen foods subsidiary of Canadian McCain Foods has announced that it is investing US$300 million in its potato processing facility in Othello, Washington, US.

The investment allows the company to expand its production capacity at the facility which serves both the retail and foodservice industries in North America.

It includes 170,000-square-foot expansion which will add another state-of-the-art battered and conventional French fry processing line to its production capabilities in the U.S.

The facility is expected to create 180 new jobs, and expand the company’s portfolio of appetizers, a variety of frozen and chilled prepared potato products and desserts.

“This investment signals confidence in Washington, its potato growing community and its skilled workforce availability,” said Jeff DeLapp, President, North America.

“It quickly follows other McCain capacity investments, helping to meet the continued increasing demand for McCain products and builds toward a strong, sustainable future in manufacturing and agriculture.”

According to the company, the investment boosts its sustainability agenda as it brings in environmental efficiencies, by reducing the facility’s carbon footprint.

Construction of the facility, which is also expected to double production at the site will begin this month and anticipated to complete in early 2021.

The added capacity follows a similar high-capacity expansion at its Burley, Idaho plant to service the U.S. and global markets.

In 2017, the McCain said it was investing US$200 million in Burley, Idaho to expand production capacity for frozen French fries, something that is said to have also created 180 new jobs.

The investment was expected to add more than 400 million lbs of capacity to the Burley facility.

McCain had earlier announced investment plans for its specialty potato capacity in Plover, Wis., and another US$65 million in its facility in Florenceville, New Brunswick, increasing its capacity there by more than 100 million lbs of specialty potato products.

McCain Foods is the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen potato products, employing approximately 20,000 and operating 47 production facilities on six continents.