OSI
The €17 million investment in Toledo, Spain, doubles chicken production.
 
AURORA, Ill. – Earlier this year, OSI Food Solutions Spain added a high capacity production line to its facility in Toledo, Spain. The €17 million ($20 million) investment has increased the production of chicken products from 12,000 tons to 24,000 tons per year.

The expansion has pushed total output at the Toledo facility to over 45,000 tons of beef, pork and chicken products. Along with the new position of product development manager, 20 new jobs were added to the existing 140 employee workforce.

"This plant extension is in response to the fast-growing demand for chicken products in Spain and Portugal,” José María del Río, managing director of OSI Spain, said in a statement. “Demand for chicken items in this area has seen more than 6 percent average annual growth over the last decade and 8 percent average annual growth for the last three years. We are anticipating continued growth of this demand, and we are ready for it.”

A new production hall, shipping and receiving areas, facility supplies storage, refrigerated rooms for waste container storage, service areas for oil, hot water and nitrogen tanks, and a social area for employees are all included in the new 22,6000-sq.-ft. building addition.

"This expansion strategy will allow us to add new products to our portfolio, grow with new foodservice and retail key accounts, and support the growth of our long-standing customers,” said OSI president and COO, David McDonald. “We are excited to be adding capacity and creating new jobs.”

Other new installations to the facility include a new perimeter access control surveillance system to enhance food defense, indoor cameras and an advanced firefighting system.

OSI gave special attention to sustainability on the expansion by using new equipment that has reduced electricity consumption by 20 percent, according to the company’s statement. Further energy improvement should be seen in the facility’s cogeneration system and refrigeration unit, which are used to heat and store water used every night during the cleaning shift.

The European Agricultural Guarantee Fund granted the project €1.5 million in recognition of OSI Spain’s commitment to agricultural development, employment, and sustainability.