McCain Foods USA is expanding its North American production capacity with an investment of $300m in its Othello potato processing facility in Washington.

The expansion will see the addition of 170,000ft² for a battered and conventional French fry processing line. It is expected to create 180 employment opportunities in the region.

Emphasising McCain’s commitment to sustainability, the investment is expected to bring environmental efficiencies and minimise the carbon footprint of the facility.

McCain Foods North America president Jeff DeLapp said: “This investment signals confidence in Washington, its potato growing community and its skilled workforce availability.

“It quickly follows other McCain capacity investments, helping to meet the continued increasing demand for McCain products and builds toward a strong, sustainable future in manufacturing and agriculture.”

Construction work at the Othello facility is expected to commence this month, with completion predicted for early 2021.

For this expansion, the company will be acquiring nearly 11,000 acres of land from the local potato growers in the region.

The company is a division of frozen French fries producer McCain Foods Limited.

Headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, McCain Foods USA is engaged in the production and supply of frozen potato and snack food products for the foodservice markets, retail grocery chains and private label brands.

It has a workforce of 4,000 people and operates production facilities in Idaho, Maine, Nebraska, Washington and Wisconsin.

In October 2017, McCain Foods Canada expanded its flagship potato processing facility in Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick, with a C$65m ($51.46m) investment.