EVANSVILLE, IN, March 19, 2009 - Berry Plastics Corporation is announcing today that Evansville, IN, has been selected as the site for a major expansion of their thermoform operations. The previously announced expansion will be located on the same campus as Berry's corporate headquarters and is scheduled to startup in the first quarter of 2010.
Berry will invest capital of approximately $150 million in building and equipment over seven years and will create more than 360 new production related jobs. In addition, the new facility will house 250 corporate jobs which Berry committed last year when they announced Evansville as the home of their world headquarters.
"We're excited to continue our long history of growth in Evansville where we have enjoyed a terrific relationship with our community, government, and employees since 1967. We are pleased to build on our outstanding workforce in Evansville which serves as the foundation for Berry to continue to strengthen our position as a leading plastic packaging supplier", stated Bill Norman, Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning. "The partnership effort extended by our government officials, including Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel, Governor Mitch Daniels, Congressman Brad Ellsworth and Senators Richard Lugar and Evan Bayh, was instrumental in selecting Evansville as the site for this important expansion."
Adam Unfried, President of the Rigid Open Top Division, added, "The Evansville thermoforming expansion will support the continued growth of our customers and the markets they serve. The added manufacturing capacity accelerates our ability to deliver on the opportunities in our new business pipeline and strategic plan. Plastic drink cups and related products continue to be preferred in the market due to the performance and value of the packaging. We are thankful to all of our customers which use our products and have provided us with this expansion opportunity during these challenging economic times."
"Berry Plastic's continued growth is a great sign that the spirit of enterprise is alive and well in our state," said Lt. Governor Becky Skillman. "We are pleased they have recognized Indiana as the location to grow their global operations."
"Congratulations to all those at Berry Plastics on the announcement of their expansion efforts in Southern Indiana. I appreciate the strong relationship Berry has developed with the State of Indiana over its many years of growth and development, and I welcome this latest achievement as a tremendous testament to Hoosiers' work ethic and our vibrant communities." said U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar.
"This is great news for Evansville and for Indiana," Senator Evan Bayh said. "Berry Plastics has made an important investment in the future of our state. Their expansion will create hundreds of quality jobs for Hoosiers at a critical juncture in our economic recovery."
"This is great news for the people of southern Indiana. I appreciate Berry Plastics' continued investment in our citizens and community," said Congressman Brad Ellsworth. "As Indiana tries to weather the current economic storm, it is critical that public officials continue to work together to create an environment that will lead to job creation for our state."
"This is such great news for Evansville. In these tough economic times, it's truly an encouraging sign to see hundreds of new jobs and millions of dollars in new investment coming to our community," said Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel. "Berry's announcement shows that Evansville is moving forward and we are setting a course to lead Indiana out of its current economic slump. I would like to once again thank Berry Plastics for its continued partnership with the people of Evansville."
For additional information, please contact:
Randy Hobson
Executive Vice President of Commercial Development
Diane Tungate
Executive Assistant
Berry Plastics Corporation
101 Oakley Street
Evansville, IN 47710
Telephone: (812) 424-2904
About Berry Plastics Corporation
Berry Plastics is a leading manufacturer and marketer of plastic packaging products. Berry Plastics is a major producer of a wide range of products, including open top and closed top packaging, polyethylene-based plastic films, industrial tapes, medical specialties, packaging, heat-shrinkable coatings and specialty laminates. The company's 13,000 plus customers range from large multinational corporations to small local businesses. Based in Evansville, Indiana, the company has 66 manufacturing facilities worldwide and nearly 13,500 employees.
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Certain statements and information included in this release may constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Federal Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Berry Plastics to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied in such forward looking statements. Additional discussion of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations is contained in the company's SEC filings. The company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.