Jindal: New food facility in Elmwood expected to create 185 jobs

Gov. Bobby Jindal joined Freshy Foods owners Floyd and Ida James today to dedicate a 50,000-square-foot, prepackaged food facility that the governor’s office says will allow the company to create 185 new direct jobs by the end of 2013. The project also retains 50 existing jobs at the Elmwood food facility near Metairie. Founded in 2009, Freshy Foods began to outgrow its original facility in Hammond earlier this year. Since moving to a new 50,000-square-foot facility in Jefferson Parish three months ago, Freshy Foods hired an additional 35 full-time workers for a current total of 50 employees. Company officials expect to add 50 more direct jobs by the end of next year and an additional 100 new direct jobs by the end of 2013—for 185 total new jobs at the facility. The new facility enables the company to be closer to its distributors and produce food products for 15 states across the South.