McCain to construct $200m potato plant in China

McCain Foods has announced that it is investing $200 million to construct a second local potato production facility in China.

The company says the investment builds on its 25 years’ presence in China and aims to meet the growing demand for its potato products in the country.

Located in Yangling Agriculture Hi-Tech Development Zone, Shaanxi Province, the new facility will expand McCain’s local production network in China. It will join the company’s existing potato processing facility in Harbin, Heilongjiang province.

With increased capacity and specialised production capability, McCain says it will continue to lead innovation in frozen potato products that meet growing demand for locally prepared products across a range of cuisines.

Headquartered in Shanghai, McCain Foods China is a supplier of frozen potato products – from French fries to potato specialities – for the local Western and Asian foodservice markets and more recently the retail sector. The China subsidiary currently employs 400 people.

McCain Foods operates in 160 countries around the world, with 51 manufacturing facilities in local markets.

Last year, the company said it would invest $60.6 million to expand its potato facility in Canada and announced plans to invest around $100 million in its first French fry factory in Brazil.