The former Birds Eye plant located in central New York was recently purchased by a real estate holdings company for the low price of $1.2 million. This enormous plant was closed back in December, 2011 as a result of poor sales and the need to cut back costs. This left central New York residents with a large, unused plant that people were forced to look at as they drove by. Thankfully, however, the new plant’s new owners are planning to re-open it.
The plant, located at 607 Phillips St. in Fulton, NY, was originally owned and operated by Fort Stanwix Canning Co. when it first opened in 1902. Through the years, several ownership changes and adjustments were made to meet the demands of consumers. Frozen vegetable and produce company Birds Eye eventually took the plant over during the early 90s, but they were forced to close their doors when the company was bought out by Pinnacle. Birds Eyes new owner felt that running the huge plant and shipping vegetables to it was cost more than it was worth; therefore, they closed the plant while laying off 280 workers in the process.
About Birds Eye
Founded in 1923 by Clarence Birdseye, Birds Eye is a frozen food processing company that specializes in vegetables and other forms of produce. In the US Birds Eye is considered part of the General Foods group, as it merged with Kraft Foods and Phillip Morris USA. In the UK, however, it owned by a larger company named Permira.
What’s In Store For The Former Birds Eye Plant?
When news of the former Birds Eye plant being sold to a real estate company first hit the newsstand, residents were skeptical of what would become of it. According to early reports, the company who now owns it plans to re-open it as a poultry-processing plant. This is certainly a step in a different direction, but it might be the perfect idea for such location. If all goes well, the new poultry-processing plant would employ over 180 new workers, giving a much-needed boost to the Fulton’s economy.
The new owner of the plant (yet to be disclosed) was given a pretty attractive tax incentive by the city to turn it into a workable business. Along with the low price of $1.2 million, and you’ve got a recipe for success. Of course we’ll have to wait a few months to see the end result of all this business talk.