Allens Makes Multiple Moves

Allens Inc., the family-owned and operated vegetable company headquartered in Siloam Springs, stayed busy in May.

The company, which touts itself as “the largest privately held vegetable company in the nation,” grows and packs both frozen and canned vegetables. It will get bigger thanks to an expanded operation in Van Buren and new operations in Oakfield, N.Y. and Fort Worth, Texas.

Senior vice president of sales & marketing Bobby D. Ray indicated via e-mail the $13.5 million Van Buren expansion is due to record-breaking sweet potato sales last year.

“This growth should double our current company capacity and it will extend employment for our seasonal workers,” Ray wrote.

The addition of a $2.2 million canned vegetable operation in Oakfield was set to begin with the production of sweet peas June, and the future addition of green beans, corn and other products.

“This will be especially beneficial as Oakfield already has a strong grower base and is part of the most heavily populated region in the country,” Ray wrote.

The Fort Worth plant was acquired from ConAgra Foods and previously was used to pack ranch style beans. The 200,000-SF facility is on 20 acres and is expected to serve as a strategic distribution point.

Furthermore, according to an Allens press release, it will provide more than 100 positions and thus boost the local economy with an estimated $4.7 million dollar plant improvement by 2011.

Allens is sold under multiple brand names throughout the world, and has manufacturing facilities in Arkansas, Georgia, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.