Atkins To Get New Plant To Replace Closed Pickle Plant

The state Economic Development Department says the former Atkins Pickle factory, closed down in 2002, will become a plant for processing meat with 450 jobs. A news release said Twin Rivers Foods, based at Fayetteville, announced it had purchased the former former Dean Specialty Foods facility. The plant will house what will be called Atkins Prepared Foods Incorporated, processing poultry, pork and beef food products. Governor Huckabee said it was great news for Atkins. He recalled that the whole area suffered a blow when the pickle plant closed two years ago. Matt Duffy, president and chief executive officer of Twin Rivers Foods, said the plant would fit will with the company`s other facilities in Arkansas and Missouri. He said the small-town atmosphere plus a labor force that is hard-working, sincere and honest will only help make the company stronger. A news release from the state agency said the company plans two phases in developing the plant. In the first, Twin Rivers will hire 130 people to work in a poultry processing operation, which should begin in July. In phase two, an additional 320 employees will be hired to work in a cooking operation, which will be open within the next two to three years.