Delaware Governor Jack Markell (left), Hong-Kuk Kim Chairman of Harim Group, and Joe Moran, CEO of Allen Harim, were present at the opening of the new chicken processing facility.
The company invested $30 million in the renovation project, and another $10 million is expected to be spent by the end of 2017.
In June, Allen Harim consolidated its processing operations, bringing it all under one roof at Harbeson.
"I’m pleased that Allen Harim has chosen to expand in Delaware and I’m encouraged by the positive impact it will have on job creation here at the plant and on the hundreds of family farms who supply this facility," Governor Jack Markell said. "This investment is a strong expression of confidence in Delaware's workers, our vibrant agriculture community, and government and business leaders who work together to create an excellent climate for growth and opportunity.”
Upgrades were completed across most aspects of the 190,000-sq.-ft. facility. The company added some new upgrades for employees including a new cafeteria, human resource department, conference and meeting rooms, and a new employee equipment room.
The plant was reconfigured to allow the installation of new equipment to meet rising customer demands. A new waste water treatment facility and the construction of a solar farm were featured areas of the project.
“A tremendous amount of hard work has gone into the renovation of the facility, and there is no doubt that we are well-positioned for growth,” said Joe Moran, CEO of Allen Harim. “We are now better positioned to meet our current and future customer demands across the US, and we will do it more efficiently and sustainably than ever before.”
Hong-Kuk Kim, Chairman of Harim Group (Allen Harim’s parent company), also traveled from South Korea for the ceremony and discussed their relationship with the US branch of the company.
“As we grow our operations in Delaware, and expand across the United States, we remain committed to supporting both the local communities in which we operate, and the US chicken industry of which we are proud to be a member,” Kim said.
