Nestle announces $100M plant expansion

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - Nestle USA announced Wednesday, Dec. 23, that it will invest more than $100 million to expand its Jonesboro plant.

The expansion, according to Arkansas Business, will also bring 100 more jobs to the area in the coming two years.

Mark Young, President & CEO of Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, says that this is a great way to help those who have suffered job loss as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and further invest into Jonesboro’s local economy.

“Adding jobs to the community is important today and will be important next year and the year after that,” said Young. “So again, super appreciative they’re doing this in Jonesboro.”

Nestle plans to renovate and add 90,000 square feet to the Jonesboro site.

Once the expansion is completed, the factory will add a line to produce Hot Pockets.

“Consumers are embracing eating at home like never before and rediscovering the frozen category, an evolution brought on by the pandemic that is showing signs of taking hold for the long term,” Mike Mahon, the factory’s manager, was quoted as saying in a news release.

Young says that Nestle will be able meet the consumers’ demands “not only in our region but across the United States as well.”

The factory, which opened in 2002, currently employs about 750 full-time workers to produce frozen foods for the company’s Stouffer’s. Lean Cuisine, DiGiornia, and Tombstone brands.

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