ST. LANDRY PARISH, La. – Savoie’s Sausage and Food Products Inc. plans to invest $12.7 million in an expansion of the company’s production facility in St. Landry Parish, near Opelousas, Louisiana. Founded by Eula Savoie in 1955 from a grocery store she owned with her husband Tom, Savoie’s Sausage and Food Products produces and distributes authentic Cajun foods including smoked sausage, boudin and tasso.

The expansion is expected to help the company broaden its distribution of Cajun-style sausage and other foods. Construction of a 41,000-sq.-ft. facility is expected to begin in January 2020 with an estimated completion by August 2020. The company expects commercial operations in the new facility to begin in September 2020.

“Those of us who work for Savoie’s Sausage and Food Products Inc. are privileged to carry on the tradition of cooking and distributing the products made from the recipes of our founder, Eula Savoie, who passed away in January of 2010,” said Frederick Lafleur, president of Savoie’s. “We believe that she would be happy to see her family business expanding and her products distributed to more and more customers. Her legacy to her family, employees and customers continues to grow, and those of us who were fortunate enough to have known her, worked with her and learned from her, take pride in carrying the business that she created forward into 2020 and beyond.”

Louisiana Economic Development began working on the expansion with Savoie’s in July 2018. To secure the facility expansion in St. Landry Parish.

The state of Louisiana offered Savoie’s an incentive package that includes a performance-based, forgivable loan of $100,000 from the state’s Economic Development Award Program. Additionally, Savoie’s is expected to participate in the state’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs.  Savoie’s expects to retain 100 employees and create five new direct jobs as a result of the facility expansion. The Louisiana Economic Development estimates the expansion also will result in 11 new indirect jobs, for a total of 16 new jobs in St. Landry Parish. The project also will generate approximately 172 construction jobs in St. Landry Parish.

“Savoie’s products have been a fixture on Louisiana dinner tables and have delighted our families for generations,” said Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards. “I am proud to celebrate this progress that will allow Savoie’s to share its authentic Louisiana flavor far beyond our state. Today’s announcement is a testament to the success of the company, strengthened by our unique culture and the highly skilled workforce of Acadiana.”