Allen Harim confirms purchase of former pickle plant

Poultry producer and processor Allen Harim has confirmed it has purchased a former Vlasic pickle processing facility in Millsboro, Delaware, from Pinnacle Foods. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
"Allen Harim is committed to investing in our people, facilities and infrastructure," said Steven A. Evans, CEO of Allen Harim. "This acquisition aligns with our strategic plan and supports our company's vision, mission and values. It is our desire to be a good neighbor in all of the regions in which we operate, and we look forward to becoming part of the fabric of Millsboro."
The company announced in April 2013 that it was interested in purchasing the facility, but the transaction was delayed as Allen Harim wanted to make sure there were no environmental concerns. Several regulatory issues also needed to be met.
Evans noted that the specific use of the 470,000 square foot complex, which has been empty for more than two years, will require continued evaluation. Allen Harim had earlier stated it hoped to process a small breed of chickens used in a popular ginseng stew. However, Evans, in a press release, said he anticipates the complex will be initially used as a warehouse and storage facility.
Allen Harim employs more than 1,600 people in the United States, including more than 1,000 in Delaware. During the last year the company added more than 200 jobs in the region, and the new facility is expected to provide additional employment growth. Allen Harim also partners with more than 200 independent growers and owns and manages 25 company farms across the Delmarva peninsula.
Headquartered in Seaford, Delaware, Allen Harim operates chicken processing facilities in Harbeson, Delaware and Cordova, Maryland; breeding operations in Liberty, North Carolina; a hatchery in Dagsboro, Delaware, and a hatchery and feed mill in Seaford. The company is primarily an industrial meat, private label and food service supplier, with a line of consumer packaged goods primarily available in the Northeastern United States.