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GNP Company Plans Two-Phase Expansion At Its Cold Spring and St. Cloud, Minnesota, Production Centers

03/30/2015
GNP Company, the Midwest's leading producer of premium natural chicken under the Just BARE and Gold'n Plump brand labels, started the first phase of a two-phase expansion plan for its operations in Cold Spring and St. Cloud, Minnesota.

The first phase of expansion, which began earlier this month, is expected to cost $35 million. It includes a building addition and the installation of new equipment to add capacity in the Cold Spring plant's first processing area as well as build-up of the company's hatchery.

Plans for the second phase, which may include a building addition and the installation of new technology and equipment to further automate processes, are still in development. Approval is contingent upon the company's future business plans, business expectations, and customer needs.

If both phases of the expansion are completed, annual plant production capacity will increase by an estimated 33 percent, which equates to about 88 million more processed pounds of chicken. Furthermore, the full expansion is expected to make the Cold Spring facility one of the most automated meat processing plants in North America.

According to company officials, GNP does not expect the expansion to significantly change the total number of jobs at the Cold Spring plant. Production capacity will be increased primarily through new technology and equipment to automate processes. New growth opportunities for team members will be determined as the expansion plan progresses and new equipment and processes come online.

In preparation for the first phase of expansion, GNP Company finished and/or started the following projects:

  • Added eight new docks to the distribution center and outbound load staging area; completed a new entrance to reduce truck and automobile congestion and increase safety and security; added a drop-trailer parking area to consolidate parking; and began construction of an additional 28-degree-cooler storage space at the Cold Spring processing plant;

  • Purchased a building in Sauk Rapids for future hatchery growth to support increased production; Expanded the truck shop for its St. Cloud Live Operations; and

  • Developed plans for the addition of up to 72 new barns in the St. Cloud area to provide the additional birds needed to satisfy potential production growth.

"This expansion will increase GNP Company's ability to satisfy the expected increase in customer and consumer demand for our products and brands, while advancing our safety processes by reducing physical job demands and improving ergonomics," President Steve Jurek said.

The Cold Spring processing plant makes Just BARE and Gold'n Plump chicken products for the premium branded retail business segment and supports new product innovation. Both of these are critical to the company's ability to effectively compete in the marketplace and meet current and future customer expectations, company officials said. GNP Company has also made recent strategic organizational changes within the company's executive leadership team, which necessitated the creation of multiple new positions and promotions across the company.

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