Source: Food Business News
Fit Foodz, a female owned and operated food manufacturer, has invested more than $15 million in Tuscaloosa to build a seven-acre poultry processing facility. The project is expected to create 180 new jobs, said the Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority (TCEDA).
Fit Foodz operates internationally, including in Japan, Guam and Europe. Lenna Castagna, president and founder of Fit Foodz, said the new Tuscaloosa location will allow the company to better serve its US customers.
“The deep pocket of talent, the colleges and university that adds so significantly to that, a tremendous living environment and the amazing people we’ve met there really made Tuscaloosa an ideal location for us,” Ms. Castagna said. “It is a great location in a great community, and we will have plenty of room to expand.”
Construction is scheduled for the third quarter of fiscal 2022. The new facility will include a raw processing line and a fully cooked line, each employing two shifts.
“This new investment by Fit Foodz represents an opportunity for us to grow an industry sector that has a long history in our county and region,” said Rob Robertson, chairman of the Tuscaloosa County Commission. “The company specializes in developing healthy poultry options, which is an approach on trend with consumer demands.”
The TCEDA estimated that Fit Foodz’s project will contribute nearly $13 million to the city during its first 20 years in Tuscaloosa.
