NASHVILLE, TENN. — Minneapolis-based General Mills, Inc. on April 28 said it will invest $250 million to increase capacity at its plant in Murfreesboro, Tenn. General Mills said the expansion is part of “Project Century,” the company’s companywide restructuring plan that is focused on streamlining operations and identifying potential capacity reductions.
General Mills opened the Murfreesboro location in 1979 to make frozen pizza products. Now, the plant is responsible for production of Yoplait yogurt and all of the company’s Toaster Strudel products. The plant also is expected to pick up some of the Pillsbury refrigerated baked goods production that is being transferred from a plant that will be closing in New Albany, Ind., in mid-2016.
As part of the expansion in Murfreesboro, General Mills said it will add two product lines and 117 jobs. The expansion will include ramping up production on existing lines as well as additional production equipment.
“On behalf of our Murfreesboro employees, and General Mills, we’re excited for what’s to come and look forward to continued success in Murfreesboro,” said Dave Tincher, plant manager.
Earlier this year, General Mills said it would close its Midland, Ont., and New Albany plants. Other manufacturing plants the company plans to close include a ready-to-eat cereal plant in Lodi, Calif., and a yogurt processing facility in Methuen, Mass.
The closings are all part of “Project Century,” which General Mills expects to generate $100 million in annualized savings by fiscal 2017.
