TROY - Golden Boy Foods Ltd. announced plans today to open a new peanut butter plant in the City of Troy which will add 130 new jobs.  Golden Boy Foods is a Canadian company which is among the leading suppliers of organic and conventional, store brand peanut butter and nut butter, as well as a premier supplier of all kinds of nut and dried fruit products for snacking and baking. 

The company supplies 20 of the top 30 retailers in North America, as well as leading foodservice organizations and major food processors.  Other Golden Boy Foods locations are in Washington State, Ontario, Canada and British Columbia, Canada.  The company is owned by Tricor Pacific Capital Inc.

Richard Harris, President and CEO of Golden Boy Foods said, “We are delighted to be joining the successful community of Troy businesses and families.  In comparison with other locations we reviewed across Alabama and Georgia, Troy stood out as the most favorable climate for our business, and the place in which we received the warmest welcome.’’

Governor Robert Bentley welcomed the news that Golden Boy Foods will be in Troy.

“Golden Boy Foods is Alabama’s latest economic development success story. The announcement that Golden Boy Foods has chosen Troy shows great confidence in Alabama’s workforce,” Governor Robert Bentley said.  “The Alabama team is working hard to recruit new jobs and expand existing industry, and I look forward to seeing Golden Boy Foods grow and help boost Alabama’s economic future.”

Alabama Development Office Director Seth Hammett said “Golden Boy Foods will be an important source of new jobs for the people in the Pike County area.  Not only will this company generate jobs at their manufacturing facility, but it has the potential to create and sustain other industry in the area.”  The company is expected to increase business for local suppliers of transportation, plastic containers, raw peanuts and other ingredients.

Troy’s Mayor Jimmy Lunsford and Pike County Economic Development Corporation’s Marsha Gaylard stated:  “We could not be more pleased that Golden Boy Foods, LTD selected Troy, Alabama as the site for their new peanut butter manufacturing facility.  We feel that this company is a perfect fit for Troy and will enhance our already great industrial base.  Golden Boy Foods will not only create 130 jobs but will also have a tremendous positive impact on peanut industry in South Alabama.  Several other local companies in Troy will have the potential to expand in order to provide products and services that Golden Boy Foods will need.”

The company estimates that 65-75 jobs will be created at the plant by the middle of 2012 and a total of 130 jobs will be created by the middle of 2013.  They will locate in the former Campbell Enterprises building in the Troy Industrial Park.