PENDLETON — The head of a custom food maker recently provided a sample of what it wants to serve up in Pendleton: a $50 million production facility that ultimately would employ 150 people earning an average of $19 per hour.
“We have an opportunity,” said Gary Meade, president and owner of Park 100 Foods Inc., a privately held Tipton-based company. “Hopefully it all comes together.”
Addressing the Pendleton Town Council at a recent meeting, Meade said the business is interested in building a plant at Falls Pointe Business Park, which is located near Interstate 69 and West State Street and owned by the town.
Meade said the company — which manufactures frozen soups, sauces, chili, side dishes, gravies, fruit toppings, dips, entrees and more — is a nationally recognized provider of custom food products. Its customers include several large restaurant chains, including Wendy’s, Panera Bread and Corner Market.
The Pendleton site would become the company’s fourth facility operating in Indiana. Current locations are in Tipton, Kokomo and Morristown. The company has a fruit processing plant in Michigan.
“We’re getting very near tapping out the plants,” he said, explaining the need to build.
His company is expanding as his customers grow, he said.
Meade said Park 100 Foods was founded in Indianapolis in 1976 with 12 employees; now it employs 630 people.
He said the company’s facilities are located in the middle of towns, and that the company is “used to working clean — not a lot of bad odors, that sort of thing.”
Robert Orr, director of capital improvements for Park 100 Foods, said company facilities “are pretty stunning” inside and out.
“Hopefully we can move forward,” Orr said.
Several town council members expressed support for the possibility of a new plant being built in Pendleton.
“I’m excited about he project,” Councilman Chet Babb said.
Councilman Chad Wolfe, who said he has visited a Park 100 Foods facility, described its operations as “impressive” and the Pendleton plan as “a big investment.
“And the (company) story’s great,” he added.
“We look forward to continue working with you,” Council President Bob Jones said. “We look forward to pursuing this.”
Meade said the company is ready to get the new plant built, hopefully in Pendleton, after pursuing an expansion possibility in Texas that didn’t pan out.
“This is a small town, but you guys don’t think small,” Meade said.
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About Park 100 Foods
• Founded in 1976.
• Corporate offices are located in Tipton.
• Makes soups, sauces, chili, side dishes, gravies, fruit toppings, dips, entrees, custards and pie filling
• Minimum batch size is usually 2,500 pounds. The products, whether fresh or frozen, are all custom formulated. The packaging is typically a “boil in the bag” concept and ranges from one pound to eight pounds.
• The research and development department is staffed with eight nationally recognized culinologists and one food scientist.
Source: www.park100foods.com
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About Fall Point Business Park
The park is owned by the Town of Pendleton and has been developed specifically to balance the needs of the community, the environment, and modern business. Inside the boundaries of Falls Pointe, everything has been designed to exceed the needs of large industry. Sites can be personalized to meet unique requirements, and all utilities are available, including high-pressure natural gas and fiber optic lines. Employee needs haven’t been forgotten, either. Day care and medical facilities are within view of the park, as are numerous restaurants.
Source: www.town.pendleton.in.us
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