Pinnacle ready to add 90 jobs

Pinnacle Foods will next week celebrate the startup of a new product line that will more than double the number of employees at its St. Elmo facility.
Pinnacle is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1:30 p.m. next Wednesday as it opens manufacturing for its recently acquired Wish-Bone salad dressings business at its plant in St. Elmo.
The St. Elmo plant currently employs about 85 people, and Pinnacle is planning to add 90 more workers in the first half of this year as it prepares to bring Wish-Bone production in-house.
Over the course of the project, announced in December 2013, Pinnacle has invested more than $50 million to purchase new equipment, expand the plant footprint and improve the existing plan infrastructure.
“The  benefits we expect to generate with this investment will enable us to invest in reinvigorating the iconic Wish-Bone brand,” said Tony Fernandez, Pinnacle Foods executive vice president and chief supply chain officer.
“We would like to thank the state of Illinois, Fayette County and the city of St. Elmo for all of their support and help with this very important expansion,” Fernandez said.
Pinnacle completed the acquisition of the Wish-Bone and Western salad dressings business from Unilever in October 2013, and previously announced plans to consolidate production of the products into an existing Pinnacle facility.
St. Elmo was identified as the best location for the integration, given its geographic location and proven expertise in liquid filling and processing, according to company officials.
The St. Elmo plant currently manufactures Pinnacle’s Mrs. Butterworth’s and Log Cabin syrups, and Open Pit barbecue sauces.
The Wednesday afternoon celebration will include a program in the main production area, as well as tours of the plant, a ribbon-cutting and a reception.