Stellar has begun work on Keystone Foods LLC’s new processing plant in Gadsden, AL, which is expected to be complete in September, 2009. The 185,000-square-foot facility will produce fully cooked chicken for foodservice customers. The plant will feature three processing lines to cook, cool and package the products. The three lines are fully segregated to enable continuous operations. In addition to the processing area, the facility will include an administration office, utilities area, ammonia refrigeration room, raw ingredient storage coolers and a raw receiving truck dock. An on-site wastewater treatment facility will also be constructed. 

Sara Lee Corporation will build a new coffee-extraction plant in the Netherlands. The $80 million expansion of the company’s Joure location will be fully operational in 2010. The company expects the new plant to boost its production capacity of instant coffee and liquids by 50 percent. The plant will produce goods for various markets, including the UK, Australia, Russia, and Poland.

Minnesota-based Barrel O’Fun Snack Foods Co. purchased 12.5 acres in Phoenix, AZ and began construction of a 144,000 sq.-ft. manufacturing and distribution center. Construction will cost about $21.5 million, and the facility is expected to employ 50 people.

After the forming of Sabra, a joint venture of PepsiCo and Strauss Group, a new $61 million state-of-the-art food manufacturing plant will open in Chesterfield County, VA. It will produce dips and spreads.