Food Processor to Expand in Muncie Adding 50 Jobs
Muncie, IN (May 20, 2009) - Monogram Comfort Foods, a food processing and packaging company,
announced today it will expand its production and distribution center
here, adding more than 50 new jobs.
The company, formed from the 2008 merger and acquisition of Al Pete
Meats, plans to invest nearly $7 million toward building and equipment
costs to expand its corndog and fritter manufacturing capacity in
Muncie.
"I am confident that Monogram Comfort Foods will continue to realize
opportunities to grow through the favorable business climate and
productive workforce Indiana has to offer," said Governor Mitch Daniels.
"We are pleased to welcome their new investment here and hope it is the
first of many to come."
The company, which plans to produce more than 250,000 corndogs per
day at its 35,000 square-foot Delaware County facility, will begin
hiring additional line workers and supervisors in June.
"Monogram could not be happier about being part of Delaware County,"
said Steve Hofford, vice president and general manager for Monogram
Comfort Foods. "The tremendous labor force and the central location of
Muncie make this facility a great addition to our perishable plants in
the US. The level of dedication of the people in Muncie and Delaware
County will help us grow this business exponentially in the coming
months and years."
Monogram Comfort Foods is the Muncie division of Monogram Food
Solutions, which is based in Memphis, Tenn. Founded in 2004, Monogram
began operations when a group of investors purchased King Cotton and
Circle B smoked meat brands from Sara Lee Corporation of Chicago. The
company specializes in perishable smoked meat products, hot dogs, corn
dogs, beef jerky, smoked sausage and other meat snack items and has
licensing agreements with Jeff Foxworthy, Bass Pro Shops and NASCAR.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Monogram Comfort
Foods up to $225,000 in performance-based tax credits and up to $36,000
in training grants based on the company's job creation plans. The
Muncie City Council will act on a property tax abatement at the request
of the Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance. "Monogram's
investment and job creation is more exciting news for Muncie-Delaware
County," said Terry Murphy, Vice President, Economic Development.
"We are excited that Monogram Foods is part of the Muncie community
and are very pleased with their continued investment and job creation
activity. Monogram's investment is further testimony that
Muncie-Delaware County is a great place to grow a business," said Mayor
Sharon McShurley.
Monogram Comfort Foods' announcement adds to a growing list of food
and beverage production companies in Indiana. Anchored by such names as
Edy's Ice Cream, Clabber Girl and Really Cool Foods, the IEDC has worked
with more than 25 food production businesses over the past four years
to bring more than 3,000 jobs to the Hoosier State.
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About the Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance:
Vision 2011 is the Delaware County's five year economic development program and is administered by the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and Delaware Advancement Corporation. For more information about the EDC, visit www.muncie.com.
About Monogram Comfort Foods:
Monogram Comfort Foods is the new name of the Al Pete Meats, a Muncie landmark that has produced top quality fritters, corndogs and other frozen meat products for hungry consumers across the Midwest. Monogram Comfort Foods represents the merger of corn dog plant, Simply Foods in Lubbock, TX and Monogram Food Solutions, LLC sales and marketing team to create a processing plant with a tremendous workforce ready to add shifts and maximize capacity.