Beverly Eaves Perdue
Governor
State of North Carolina
Office of the Governor
20301 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-0301
September 16, 2010
Contact: Chris Mackey
Office: (919) 733-5612
Advanced Food Processor to Bring 200 Jobs to Halifax County
NCSU Technology, State Grant Help Empire Foods Locate in Corporate Park
RALEIGH - Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Empire Foods Inc., an advanced-technology food processing
company, will bring 200 jobs to Halifax County. The company, using technology licensed from N.C. State
University, plans to create 200 jobs and invest $2.5 million over the next five years. The project was made possible
in part by a $400,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
“These 200 new jobs are the result of North Carolina's exceptional ability to bring together innovation, economic
development, our renowned university system and local and state partnerships,” said Gov. Bev Perdue. “This
creative collaboration will also benefit local farmers, successfully combining new production technology with our
traditional agricultural heritage.”
Empire Foods Inc. is a state-of-the-art food processing company that uses technology licensed from N.C. State
University to produce shelf-stable food products. The products do not require refrigeration, but maintain the flavor,
color and nutrients of fresh food. The company will lease a 35,000-square-foot production facility to be built by
the county at the new Halifax Corporate Park. It will produce fruits and vegetables with an initial focus toward
military and restaurant markets. In addition to creating jobs at the production facility, the company will purchase
fruits and vegetables from local and regional farmers.
Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $28,418, not including
benefits. The Halifax County average annual wage is $25,532.
“We are pleased that we are able to keep this technology in North Carolina where it was created, in cooperation
with North Carolina State University. Locating this project in North Carolina, we can look forward to continued
collaboration with the university’s Food Science Department,” said Greg Hatem, chairman of Empire Foods. J.
Michael Drozd, president and CEO added, “The economic development team did a wonderful job making it
possible for us to be in North Carolina, and most importantly, in Halifax County. The wide variety of products that
can be grown as well as the very capable workforce made Halifax County the top location.”
