Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Closing American Samoa cannery, Chicken of the Sea opens Georgia plant

Posted at 01:42 on 08 May, 2009 UTC

The governor of the U.S. state of Georgia has confirmed that Chicken of the Sea International is setting up a plant in the city of Lyons.

Last week Friday, the San Diego-based Chicken of the Sea announced it was closing its canning operations in American Samoa and opening a U.S. plant.

The Georgia Governor, Sonny Perdue, says the company will create 200 jobs and invest about 20 million US dollars.

Mr Perdue says Georgia’s strong workforce and extensive transportation network make it a natural choice for food processing plants striving to keep costs down.

The president of Chicken of the Sea, Shue Wing Chan, says Georgia provides a business development package that makes for a smooth transition.