OMAHA — ConAgra Foods has opened a potato processing plant in Shangdu, Inner Mongolia. The company’s first facility in China, the site was acquired in July as part of ConAgra’s purchase of TaiMei Potato Industries Ltd. and expands operations in a market with a growing demand for frozen potato products. Under the Lamb Weston brand, ConAgra manufactures a variety of frozen potato, sweet potato and other vegetable products for restaurants, retailers and food service operators in more than 100 countries, which includes business in China and throughout Asia for more than 25 years.
Located in one of the largest potato growing regions in China, the plant employs approximately 340 and produces frozen french fries for food service and potato flakes. ConAgra has invested in updates to the facility to meet standards for safety and quality while adding advanced potato planting and processing technologies to the market. Production at the facility began on Oct. 31.
“This is a big day for ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston and our business in China,” said Greg Schlafer, president, Lamb Weston. “We’re pleased to be a part of the local community here in Shangdu, supporting the agricultural economy in the region. We’re confident in our local workforce, and we’re proud to bring our more than 60 years of potato processing experience to the area with a focus on safe, efficient and sustainable operations.”
ConAgra paid $93 million to acquire TaiMei, which was established in 2010, as part of strategic plans to grow its international business.