Buddig to Expand Illinois Presence

CHICAGO - Carl Buddig & Co. announced today that they will be expanding their operations within Illinois with the purchase of the former Butterball facility in Montgomery. The facility has been vacant since prior operations ceased in July 2017. Buddig will utilize the 280,000 sq ft facility to grow its manufacturing footprint for lunch meats and specialty meats production.

"Since the old operation ceased, my administration has been working tirelessly to get this facility up and running again for the great folks of Montgomery," said Governor Bruce Rauner. "I am thrilled to have a homegrown Illinois company like Buddig expanding within our state and bringing this facility back to life."

"With our customers' demand for great-tasting Buddig products, it was vital that we increase our manufacturing facilities," said Bob Buddig, CEO of Carl Buddig and Company. "The Montgomery facility is our fourth manufacturing facility in Illinois, and we look forward to starting production there this Spring."

Due to the similarity of the two companies' operations, Buddig is an ideal new tenant for the facility and will benefit greatly from the availability of trained workers in the area. The project will create 250 jobs within the first two years of operations and then ramp up to 350 jobs by year five. Buddig employs over 1,200 people within Illinois. Their most recent purchase of Rupari Food Services kept 200 jobs in Illinois.

"It is victories like this that happen when all parties come together and work towards a common goal," said Illinois Department of Commerce Director Sean McCarthy. "Illinois is slowly but surely coming back. We're beginning to see real results from investing and marketing our assets, like our world-class workforce, while fostering an environment that is supportive to businesses at all levels."

The Governor, the Department of Commerce and Intersect Illinois worked with State Senator Jim Oberweis, State Representative Keith Wheeler, local government officials, local economic development organizations and other key stakeholders to ensure this project's success.

Dan Wynn, Buddig's Chief Operating Officer commented: "It was an easy decision to expand in Montgomery after learning about the assistance and support we would receive from the State of Illinois, the Village of Montgomery, Montgomery's Economic Development Corporation, and Kane County's Workforce Development Division. We look forward to working with all of these agencies and bringing 250 to 300 new jobs to Montgomery over the next year."

"Manufacturing, especially food processing, remains a staple of the Illinois economy," said Senator Oberweis. "It was essential to get this facility back in operation for the people of Montgomery, and I look forward to supporting Buddig's success."

"This is a great day for the Village of Montgomery," said Representative Wheeler. "An investment of this magnitude will offer not only relief for this resilient community, but tremendous opportunity in the years to come. I am thrilled to welcome Buddig into the 50th District and look forward to seeing this facility filled once again."

"We have a very solid manufacturing core as well as a strong workforce here in the Village of Montgomery," said Village President Matt Brolley.  "The plant has always been used for meat processing, which makes it an ideal facility for Buddig's operations.  On behalf of the Village Board and community, I want to thank Carl Buddig & Co for expanding their business into Montgomery.  We are thrilled to welcome them into our community."

Illinois was in tight competition with Indiana to win this project. Indiana had previously won Buddig's 2013 project in a similar face off, citing the proximity to their existing South Holland, IL plant but with lower property taxes and affordable cost of doing business within Indiana.

"Buddig's decision to invest and expand within Illinois is a testament to the hard work that is being done by all of us, as a team, to attract investment and create a business environment that is competitive with our neighbors," said Intersect Illinois President & CEO Mark Peterson. "We will continue to build upon this success and bring more opportunity to every corner of the state."

"Any time an Illinois manufacturer is able to expand, especially within our borders, is a case for celebration," said Mark Denzler, Vice President and COO of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association. "Buddig is a manufacturing success story and we look forward to supporting their newest venture in Montgomery."

Karen Noble, Executive Vice President of Human Resources added, "We have already posted open job positions for the new Montgomery location on the Careers page of our Buddig.com website. We encourage anyone interested in working at the new Montgomery location to apply."