Heinz brings jobs, credibility

By: Morning News | SCNow
Published: June 08, 2008

The name “Heinz” means ketchup.

And its signature brand is recognized all over the world.

But Heinz is much more than that as the Pee Dee has learned this past week.

The company announced that it will build a new facility to expand its production of frozen meals creating 350 jobs.

The facility, to be built on a 49-acre site at the Pee Dee Electric Cooperative’s Touchstone Energy Commerce City, near I-95 and S.C. 327, will produce frozen entrees in its Weight Watchers Smart Ones and Boston Market product lines.

The investment in the plant and equipment is estimated to be $105 million to start.

The financial investment along with the jobs are certainly welcome news for the Pee Dee.

The Heinz recruitment, along with several others during the past few years, shows we are making progress in getting new industry here to replace what we have lost and add even more jobs.

We all know the importance of that as we want to see our community grow and prosper in a good way.

The spinoffs from suppliers to the need for other goods and services is good news for all of us.

And another benefit is adding a good corporate citizen to the community to strengthen everything from civic groups to charities and other community events.

“Heinz is one of the world’s largest food producers,” Joe W. King, executive director of the Florence County Economic Development Partnership told the Morning News. “They’ve got iconic brands. The name recognition is just phenomenal.”

And Florence County Council Chairman Rusty Smith added, “the Heinz name will continue to add substantial significance to our corporate citizenry.”

It can’t do anything but help recruit other businesses when we can show that Heinz along with “newer” businesses such as Honda, Roche, and Nan Ya are here along with QVC and Johnson Controls and long time stalwarts such as General Electric, Nucor Steel and DuPont.

Recruiting industry is, as King told the Morning News, “a team sport.”

And the Florence and Pee Dee team is on a winning streak.