CONAGRA BRANDS ANNOUNCES OPENING OF NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART BIRDS EYE® VEGETABLE PROCESSING FACILITY

Rhea-AI Summary

Conagra Brands (NYSE: CAG) announced the opening of a new vegetable processing facility in Waseca, Minn., with a $300 million investment aimed at modernizing production capabilities. The 245,000 square foot facility, designed for enhanced automation and food safety, can process 120 million pounds of corn, 45 million pounds of peas, and over 20 million pounds of rice annually. The facility replaces a 92-year-old plant and is expected to reduce water usage by 25% per pound produced. In fiscal year 2021, the Birds Eye brand recorded more than $1.5 billion in retail sales.

Positive

• Investment of approximately $300 million in new facility.
• New facility increases vegetable processing capacity by 20%.
• Facility can produce 120 million pounds of corn and 45 million pounds of peas annually.
• Expected 25% reduction in water usage per pound produced.
• Birds Eye brand generated over $1.5 billion in retail sales in fiscal year 2021.

Negative

• None.

An investment of approximately $300 million in Waseca, Minn. facility will modernize production capabilities

CHICAGO, June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG), one of North America's leading branded food companies, today announced the opening of its new state-of-the-art vegetable processing plant in Waseca, Minn. The new 245,000 square foot facility, which processes fresh vegetables to support Conagra's frozen meals business and Birds Eye brand, was built from the ground up with a focus on maximizing automation to create greater efficiencies and enhancing food safety throughout.

"The significant investment in our new facility in Waseca is indicative of the strong opportunity we see in our frozen foods business," said Sean Connolly, president and chief executive officer, Conagra Brands. "Conagra is committed to investing in innovation across the company, including our supply chain. We are also pleased to make the investment in Waseca where Birds Eye has a long history."

The peas and corn processed at the new facility come from a network of nearby growers who use a variety of actions to help fight climate change, such as smart practices to save water, support biodiversity and improve soil health. Conagra has invested in technology in the fields to monitor the plants' nutrient needs using real-time data. This allows harvesting to sync with the facility's production schedule, so that the vegetables are picked at peak ripeness and transported directly to the new Waseca facility where they are received, washed and frozen within a few hours.

"Our teams looked at every aspect of the facility to identify automation opportunities to improve productivity and modernize food safety practices throughout our operations," said Ale Eboli, executive vice president and chief supply chain officer at Conagra Brands. "The state-of-the-art design and uniquely designed equipment featured in the facility process fresh vegetables in the most efficient and responsible way possible."

The new facility replaces a 92-year-old facility in Waseca and will provide approximately 20% more capacity for processing vegetables. On an annual basis, the facility can process and produce 120 million pounds of cut and cob corn, 45 million pounds of peas, and more than 20 million pounds of rice. In addition, Conagra anticipates the new facility uses approximately 25% less water per pound of product produced than the company's previous facility.

In fiscal year 2021, Conagra's Birds Eye brand generated more than $1.5 billion in retail sales. For more information on Conagra Brands, including innovation from the company's roster of iconic and emerging brands, visit conagrabrands.com.

About Conagra Brands
Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG), headquartered in Chicago, is one of North America's leading branded food companies. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Conagra Brands combines a rich heritage of making great food with a sharpened focus on innovation. The company's portfolio is evolving to satisfy people's changing food preferences. Conagra's iconic brands, such as Birds Eye®, Duncan Hines®, Healthy Choice®, Marie Callender's®, Reddi-wip®, and Slim Jim®, as well as emerging brands, including Angie's® BOOMCHICKAPOP®, Duke's®, Earth Balance®, Gardein®, and Frontera®, offer choices for every occasion. For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com.

For all media inquiries, please contact: 
Tim Wrona
Conagra Brands
(312) 549-5400
Tim.wrona@conagra.com

 

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SOURCE Conagra Brands, Inc.

FAQ

What is the investment amount in Conagra's new facility in Waseca, Minn.?

Conagra Brands announced an investment of approximately $300 million for its new facility.

What capacity does the new Waseca facility have for vegetable processing?

The new facility has a processing capacity increase of approximately 20%.

How much product can the Waseca facility process annually?

The facility can process up to 120 million pounds of corn, 45 million pounds of peas, and over 20 million pounds of rice annually.

What was the retail sales figure for the Birds Eye brand in fiscal year 2021?

In fiscal year 2021, the Birds Eye brand generated more than $1.5 billion in retail sales.

What environmental efficiencies does the new facility provide?

The new facility is expected to use approximately 25% less water per pound of product produced.