Gov. Nathan Deal announced that Trident Seafoods, the largest vertically integrated seafood harvesting and processing company in North America, has selected Carroll County as the site of a new seafood processing facility. The new plant will create 175 jobs and is a $41 million investment in the state of Georgia.
“Georgia is the logical place for Trident Seafoods to expand its East Coast operations,” said Deal. “From our highway system that allows trucks to reach 80 percent of the U.S. market in two days to our highly trained workforce, the state offers a wealth of resources to help Trident reach its business goals.”
Trident Seafoods is currently in the planning stages for development of its new, state-of-the-art seafood processing facility in Carrollton. Utilizing frozen fish fillets and fillet blocks as raw material, the facility will add value by producing portion-controlled frozen seafood products, as well as a diverse variety of battered, glazed, breaded, fryer- and oven-ready frozen items.
The Carroll County processing facility will be located in a 104,000-square-foot building that formerly housed a food production facility for Chiquita. Originally designed for food production and storage, the building offers refrigerated storage and an on-site wastewater treatment plant. Trident plans to expand the facility by an additional 43,000 square feet. Completion of the project is expected in the fourth quarter of 2014. Hiring will take place in mid-2014.
“We are very happy to be expanding our business in Carroll County, Georgia, and we’re looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship with the citizens of Carrollton,” said Joe Bundrant, executive vice president of Trident Seafoods Corp. “Trident is a family-owned business. It feels good to be welcome here. We care about people, and we care about the communities that support us. This is a great match. We’re proud to be your new neighbor and your new partner in a bright tomorrow.”
“We are looking forward to welcoming Trident Seafoods to Carrollton and to working with all of our partners to allow them to become a successful part of our corporate community,” stated Carrollton Mayor Wayne Garner.
Walt Farrell managed the project for the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), which partnered with Carroll Tomorrow to help the company locate.
“The food processing industry is our largest manufacturing sector, and the addition of Trident to our company roster is a big win for the state,” said GDEcD Commissioner Chris Cummiskey. “We’re pleased the company has found its Georgia home in a building and community ideally suited to its needs.”
About Trident Seafoods
Founded in 1973 and based in Seattle, Trident Seafoods is a vertically integrated harvester, processor and marketer of seafood from Alaska, the Pacific Northwest and around the world. Trident catches and processes wild Alaska salmon, cod, crab and pollock and delivers a wide selection of fish and shellfish products for retail and foodservice customers. The company operates a fleet of more than 30 vessels, including floating processors, catcher-processors, fishing boats and support vessels. Trident’s onshore facilities include processing plants in a dozen coastal communities from Newport, Ore., to Akutan, Alaska. Through its popular Trident and Louis Kemp brands, among others, the company is expanding its 40-year reputation for premium quality seafood in the nation’s finest retail stores, restaurants and club store warehouses.