US-based prepared soup, entrée, and side dish manufacturer Blount Fine Foods has acquired a food manufacturing facility in Portland, Oregon.

The company expects the 80,000ft² facility to increase the production capacity of its soups and side dishes.

Blount Fine Foods president and chief executive Todd Blount said: “Market demand for all soups, but especially our premium soups continue to increase, with flavours, sizes and eating occasions creating more opportunity for our customers.

“Adding this facility meaningfully rounds out our nationwide network of plants and distribution points and allows us to get the best ingredients to the ideal plant, and then ship the highest quality product on to the customer in the most efficient manner possible.”

The company intends to commence production operations at its new facility by July. It is also planning to invest more than $25m to deploy advanced equipment.

Blount’s new facility will feature spiral hydro chiller for quick-chilling soups to lock in freshness. It will also include proprietary cooking kettles.

once operational, Blount expects to hire 50 people at the new facility. The workforce at the facility will increase to 150 people once it becomes fully operational.

Blount added: “With the purchase of this plant in Portland, we are adding redundancy, flexibility, diversity, breadth, and depth, all of which benefit our customers around the country, while also strengthening our leadership position in the industry.”

The company has also entered an agreement with a third-party logistics (3PL) partner. The partner will provide expanded distribution and logistics across the US.