McCain Foods Announces Expansion in Burley, IdahoMay 3, 2017

BURLEY, Idaho—Wednesday, May 3, 2017— Today, McCain Foods USA, a division of McCain Foods Limited, the world’s largest producer of frozen potato products, announced their plans to expand production capacity in Burley, Idaho for frozen french fries. McCain plans to invest over $200 million to expand its state-of-the-art production facility, and expects to create over 180 new jobs directly.

This investment is in response to increased demand for McCain branded products in North America and around the world. “In 2016, we reviewed all of our North America sites and narrowed the potential for expansion to a handful that could best help us meet the growing demand for McCain products” said Jeff DeLapp, Regional President, North America “In the end, we chose Burley due to its proximity to quality potatoes, availability of skilled workforce, and strong community and state level support.”

McCain has had a long presence in Burley, Idaho and this expansion will continue to drive substantial economic development in the region. Idaho’s economic impact analysis shows that while approximately 180 jobs will come from McCain directly, the entire project will drive about 380 new jobs, total. Further, over a 20 year period state GDP will be enhanced by $560 million. State and local performance-based incentives over the same period total about $20 million.

“Between construction activities, employment at the plant, and the sourcing of local supplies though our Idaho potato farmers, there’s no question that the economic impact of McCain’s investment will help expand our solid economic base throughout Southern Idaho,” said Brad Little, Lieutenant Governor, Idaho.

“We are excited to continue our strong relationship with McCain Foods here in Burley,” said Mayor Merlin Smedley. “We started working with their team late last year and we are thankful for their continued support and presence in our community.”

McCain expects that the new capacity will be up and running in late summer 2018 with construction to start in May this year.

About McCain

McCain Foods is an international leader in the frozen food industry and the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen potato products, employing approximately 20,000 people and operating 51 production facilities on six continents. A privately-owned company based in Canada, McCain generates annual sales in excess of CDN $8.5 billion. The company’s products can be found in restaurants and retail stores in over 160 countries around the world.

Media Contacts:

McCain Foods – Communication Manager | 630-857-4931| communications.usa@mccain.com

City of Burley – Doug Manning | 208-878-2224 | dcmanning@pmt.org

Idaho Commerce – Megan Hill | 208-334-2470 | megan.hill@commerce.idaho.gov

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