Barilla Celebrates $65 Million Expansion at Ames Facility
The company will add 41 more jobs to its pasta plant and mill in Iowa
AMES, Iowa, April 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Barilla, the Italian family-owned food company, today celebrated the expansion of its pasta plant and integrated durum mill located in Ames, Iowa. This expansion brings the facility's production capacity to 200,000 metric tons of dry pasta per year.
Barilla executives including CEO Claudio Colzani joined Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Ames Mayor John Haila, Ames Chamber and Economic Development Commission President & CEO Dan Culhane, Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen and Barilla Plant Director Larry Covington for a ribbon cutting in Ames, 30 miles north of Des Moines in central Iowa.
"Pietro Barilla had a vision for our company to bring to the U.S. high-quality, healthy foods inspired by the Italian, Mediterranean lifestyle," said Barilla Group CEO Claudio Colzani. "Over 20 years ago, we were drawn to the unparalleled work ethic of Iowans, the agricultural know-how of Iowa State University and the proximity to favorable rail access as well as the critical regional supply of wheat. Barilla began U.S. production in Iowa in 1998, and we haven't looked back. Our continued investments in this facility reflect our deep commitment to the Ames community."
The celebration and ribbon-cutting signified the completion of two additional processing and packaging lines, a rail-yard expansion and six new silos to store wheat. Following a tour of the plant, Ames community leaders joined Barilla executives and employees for a pasta lunch after the ceremony, enjoying dishes prepared by a Barilla chef for the occasion.
"We are very pleased with Barilla's continued growth and investment in Ames," said Ron Hallenbeck, Executive Vice President for the Ames Economic Development Commission. "Barilla's dedication to the community and the local workforce make them a manufacturer we are proud to call one of our own."
The Barilla Ames facility now has 214 employees and eight production lines able to produce 200,000 metric tons of pasta annually. This expansion follows a recent addition in 2015, which brought 23 jobs and two new production lines for gluten-free pasta. Barilla received support from local and state government to secure tax incentives for both projects.
About the Barilla Group
Founded 140 years ago in Parma out of a shop that made bread and pasta, Barilla is today among the top Italian food groups: world leader in the markets of pasta and ready-to-use sauces in continental Europe, bakery products in Italy, and the crisp bread business in Scandinavia. The Barilla Group owns 28 production sites (14 in Italy and 14 abroad) and exports to more than 100 countries. Every year, its plants turn out around 1,700,000 tons of food products that are consumed on tables all over the world, under the following brand names: Barilla, Mulino Bianco, Harrys, Pavesi, Wasa, Filiz, Yemina e Vesta, Misko, Voiello, Academia Barilla.
When the first shop opened in 1877, Pietro Barilla focused on making good food. Today, this has evolved into a unique way of doing business for the Barilla Group: "Good for You, Good for the Planet."
"Good for You" means constantly improving our products, motivating people to adopt healthy lifestyles and improving food access and social inclusion. "Good for the Planet" means promoting sustainable supply chains and reducing the amount of CO2 we emit and water we consume during production.
For more information, please visit: www.barillagroup.com
Media Contacts:
Fernando Agudelo
312-240-3082
[email protected]
Stephanie Garris
[email protected]
SOURCE Barilla Group
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