POCATELLO – Idaho Gov. Butch Otter and local leaders announced today that Amy's Kitchen will expand its operations by purchasing the Pocatello plant formerly operated by Heinz.

Company officials say they plan to hire 200 full-time employees when the 500,000 square foot facility begins operations in December 2014. Founded over 26 years ago in Sonoma County, Calif., Amy's is a world leader in the production of natural and organic convenience foods. Amy's plans to ramp up to over 1,000 employees in Idaho over the next 15 years. When the project is fully staffed, the economic impact to the state will include new total wages of $342 million and new state tax revenues of $35.7 million. Amy's is getting tax credits from the state and Bannock County.

Amy's is known for crafting its own recipes. The company cooks up more than 250 foods including frozen entrees, meals and snacks, as well as candy bars, cookies, canned soups, jarred salsa and pasta sauce. Amy's products are sold in supermarkets, natural foods stores and select warehouse club stores nationwide.

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