Pinnacle Foods to Relocate EVOL® Frozen Foods Production to Support Long-Term Growth

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Aug. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Consistent with its growth outlook for the EVOL^® brand at the time of the Company's Boulder Brands acquisition, Pinnacle Foods (NYSE: PF) today announced plans to relocate EVOL manufacturing operations to an existing Pinnacle facility in Fayetteville, AR. The EVOL brand has outgrown its current manufacturing site in Boulder, CO, and the Fayetteville location has the necessary capacity to accommodate the business. Select products will continue to be produced at strategic contract manufacturers with specialized capabilities. Pinnacle anticipates the EVOL plant will close in the first quarter of 2017.

"While it's never an easy decision to close a manufacturing plant, this action will ensure the long-term success of the EVOL brand," said Mike Wittman, Pinnacle Foods Executive Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer. "We are thankful to the employees at the EVOL plant and value the many contributions they have made to the business."

The approximately 85 affected employees at the EVOL facility will be encouraged to apply for open positions at other Pinnacle facilities, including at a nearby facility in Denver, CO. Pinnacle will provide pay continuation for a period of time for eligible employees, employee assistance support and will also connect employees with career support services. A minimum of 60 days' notice prior to final closure of the plant will be provided to employees.  

Pinnacle will be investing in the Fayetteville facility to upgrade existing manufacturing capabilities and expects to hire approximately 25 new full-time employees to support the added capacity. The state of Arkansas has committed support to Pinnacle in the form of grants and incentives in recognition of the economic benefit of Pinnacle's expansion in Fayetteville.

About Pinnacle Foods Inc.
In more than 85% of American households, consumers reach for Pinnacle Foods brands. Pinnacle Foods is ranked on Fortune Magazine's 2015 Top 1000 companies list. We are a leading producer, marketer and distributor of high-quality branded food products, which have been trusted household names for decades. Headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, our business employs an average of 5,400 employees. Our Duncan Hines Grocery segment manages brands such as Duncan Hines® baking mixes and frostings, Vlasic® and Vlasic Farmer's Garden® shelf-stable pickles, Wish-Bone® and Western® salad dressings, Mrs. Butterworth's® and Log Cabin® table syrups, Armour® canned meats, Brooks® and Nalley® chili and chili ingredients, Duncan Hines® Comstock® and Wilderness® pie and pastry fruit fillings and Open Pit® barbecue sauces. Our Birds Eye Frozen segment manages brands such as Birds Eye®, gardein™, Birds Eye Steamfresh®, C&W®, McKenzie's®, and Freshlike® frozen vegetables, Birds Eye Voila!® complete bagged frozen meals, Van de Kamp's® and Mrs. Paul's® frozen prepared seafood, Hungry-Man® frozen dinners and entrees, Aunt Jemima® frozen breakfasts, Lender's® frozen and refrigerated bagels, and Celeste® frozen pizza. Our Specialty Foods segment manages Tim's Cascade Snacks®, Hawaiian® kettle style potato chips, Erin's® popcorn, Snyder of Berlin® and Husman's® snacks in addition to our food service and private label businesses. The acquisition of Boulder Brands in early 2016 added well-known brands such as Glutino®, Udi's Gluten Free®, Earth Balance®, EVOL® foods, and Smart Balance® to the Pinnacle Foods portfolio. Further information is available at www.pinnaclefoods.com.

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SOURCE Pinnacle Foods Inc.

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