Cardinal Foods Plans Pender County, North Carolina, Operations Expansion
02/18/2021
The current expansion, which will double the facility’s workforce, involves the production of sweet potato French fries to fill growing market demand in the U.S. and abroad.
“We are excited about the opportunity the future holds for Cardinal Foods and the region’s agriculture community,” said Corey Barnhill, Cardinal Foods president and CEO. “This expansion will close the gap in offering North Carolina growers a viable solution for processing their crops and open up global markets that were limited previously.”
Cardinal will rely on raw materials supplied by farmers in North Carolina, which has led the nation in sweet potato production since 1971. In 2019, the state produced two billion pounds of sweet potatoes, about 61 percent of total U.S. production, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
A performance-based grant of $50,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help facilitate Cardinal Foods’ expansion in Pender County. The One N.C. Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All One N.C. grants require a matching grant from local governments and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.
“Cardinal Foods is a home-grown company connecting North Carolina farmers to quality-minded consumers around the world,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Sanders. “The company’s success demonstrates how our state’s productive soils and productive people create a global competitive edge for value-added agribusiness operations.”
The N.C. Department of Commerce worked closely with the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) to lead a collaborative effort to support Cardinal Foods’ choice of Pender County for this expansion. Other key partners in the project include the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, Pender County, the Town of Burgaw and Wilmington Business Development (WBD).
Founded in Burgaw in 2017, Cardinal Foods processes blueberries, sweet potatoes and butternut squash harvested primarily by North Carolina farmers. The company also provides product development, marketing and distribution services. Its foods are sold to both national consumer brands and leading grocery retailers.
Project Announcements
Lactalis USA Upgrades Walton-Buffalo, New York, Production Operations
07/18/2025
Brawo USA Forges Expands Laurens County, South Carolina, Operations
07/18/2025
Rolls-Royce Solutions America Expands Graniteville, South Carolina, Assembly Operations
07/18/2025
Aerial Machine & Tool Corporation Expands Patrick County, Virginia, Operations
07/18/2025
Meridian Biotech Plans Franklin County, Kentucky, Aquaculture Product Operations
07/18/2025
Module Design Expands Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Operations
07/14/2025
Most Read
-
20th Annual Area Development Gold and Silver Shovel Awards
Q2 2025
-
In Focus: AI Is Changing Incentives Math
Q2 2025
-
How to Choose the Right Site for Your Factory in 2025’s Volatile Landscape
Q2 2025
-
From Silicon to Server: Mapping the Data Center Supply Chain
Q2 2025
-
Rethinking Life Sciences Site Selection in a Resilient and Dynamic Market
Q2 2025
-
First Person: David Robey, Co-CEO of QTS Data Centers
Q2 2025
-
Manufacturing’s New Risk Game for Site Selection
Q2 2025