August 16, 2007

  

WEST LIBERTY, IOWA -West Liberty Foods wowed a crowd of over 300 people when it opened the doors of its 217,000 square foot world-class flagship facility in Tremonton, Utah on August 7.  With the addition of the Tremonton facility, the company will produce an additional 1.6 million pounds of finished protein each week. “West Liberty Foods will be doing things in this facility that have never been done before in the United States,” said Ed Garrett, President & Chief Executive Officer, West Liberty Foods.  

Special guest speakers commencing the ribbon cutting ceremony included Jeff Edwards, President & CEO Economic Development Corporation of Utah, Congressman Rob Bishop, US House of Representatives, Mike Nelson, Managing Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Tremonton City Mayor Max Weese.   

“All of us are happy and excited about this day because we recognize the significance the corporate citizens play in making this a better state and a better place to work in,” said Congressman Rob Bishop.  

“Today is a tremendous day in Tremonton,” stated Garrett.  “It takes many many talented people along with the state and local government to create what we have here behind us.”  

West Liberty Foods celebrated completion of the company’s first facility outside the state of Iowa. In addition to the Tremonton facility, the company owns three protein processing facilities in Iowa, which combined with Tremonton, will employ a workforce of 1600.  Housed between West Liberty’s slice building and log fabrication/IQF facility is Millard Refrigerated Services (MRS) cold storage distribution center.  Tremonton hosts the 33rd facility for MRS but the first in the state of Utah.  MRS previously joined forces with West Liberty Foods in the partnership of their Mount Pleasant, Iowa facility.  

“It is great to have innovative companies in Northern Utah like this and we hope that this will usher in a new era of modernization and innovation in the state of Utah.  We are grateful to have West Liberty here.  It is a great time to be in the state of Utah,” said Mike Nelson.   Mayor Max Weese said, “We appreciate very much to have the opportunity to host this great company.”  

Paul Hill, West Liberty Foods Chairman, commented on the company’s decision to expand, “We have been on fast track- our customers have demanded food safe products and that demand fueled growth. Eleven years ago West Liberty Foods wasn’t even a thought, let alone a dream. We have a tremendous opportunity here to build and shape a new workforce.”  

West Liberty Foods, founded in 1996 and headquartered in West Liberty, Iowa, is a leading co-packer, private label manufacturer and foodservice supplier of processed meat and poultry products.  

For more information contact:
Janelle Plantz, Marketing Manager
West Liberty Foods, L.L.C.
319-627-6131
janelle.plantz@wlfoods.com