Governor, Delaware Leaders Welcome Allen Harim’s Decision to Purchase Former Pinnacle (Vlasic) Pickle Plant for Poultry Operations

(DOVER, DE) – Governor Jack Markell, Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee, Delaware Economic Development Office Director Alan Levin and U.S. Sen. Tom Carper issued the following statements today regarding the announcement by Harim that it intends to purchase the former Pinnacle Foods plant in Millsboro, invest $100 million and employ an estimated 700 people in a poultry processing, cut-up and cooking operation.

“We are pleased by this important expansion by Harim Group in Sussex County,” said Governor Markell. “This decision strengthens Harim’s commitment to Delaware, and it helps many Delawareans in Sussex County who want to work for this growing company.”

“The poultry industry is the backbone of Delaware’s agriculture economy, and Harim is now making it stronger,” said Secretary Kee, who first introduced the idea of purchasing the plant to Harim executives. “Our poultry growers will have more opportunity; our workers will have more jobs and our state will sell more chicken, helping cement Sussex County’s position as the No. 1 broiler-producing county in the nation. ”

“Harim’s decision to expand its U.S. interests here in the First State further emphasizes that Delaware is a great place to grow a business,” said DEDO Director Levin. “Our economy needs a strong poultry industry, and we believe that Harim’s move to Millsboro will go a long way toward fulfilling that goal. ”

“I’ve worked to keep this plant open for more than 20 years, and I was happy to be a part of an all-hands-on-deck effort to make sure we replaced the jobs that could be lost if the plant closed for good,” Senator Carper said. “We started looking for a company that might utilize this fine facility. Our efforts have finally paid off, and I am grateful that Allen Harim will be taking over this manufacturing facility in order to expand its poultry processing operation and eventually restore hundreds of much-needed jobs to Sussex County.”