ConAgra Foods on Wednesday announced plans for a more than $200 million expansion of the Lamb Weston division's plant in southern Washington state.
The project, which is expected to add 128 full-time jobs in Richland, Wash., will add a new production line for frozen french fries in order to keep up with rising global demand. The plant currently employs about 500 workers.
“Investing in capabilities like this is indicative of the opportunity we see in potatoes, and our specific opportunity at Lamb Weston to lead the category," said Greg Schlafer, president of the Lamb Weston business.
Lamb Weston, which sells dozens of frozen potato products, expects the project to increase the production capacity of the Richland plant to more than 300 million pounds annually.
Construction will begin immediately and is expected to wrap up in the fall of 2017.
