Harry’s Fresh Foods officials announced on Wednesday the company will locate a new production facility in Nashville. The premium refrigerated and frozen foods manufacturer will invest $34.3 million and create 302 jobs in Davidson County.
“We thank Harry’s Fresh Foods for choosing Tennessee to locate its new production facility and creating more than 300 jobs in Davidson County,” Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam said. “Our state’s central location is an incredible advantage when we’re recruiting businesses to locate and grow here.
Today’s announcement brings us another step closer to our goal of making Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”
“There are over 1,000 registered food and beverage manufacturers in Tennessee, and we are excited to have Harry’s Fresh Foods be a part of this growing sector,” Commissioner Randy Boyd said. “I want to thank Harry’s Fresh Foods for creating these jobs for our workforce and welcome them to Team Tennessee.”
Officials said, "Harry’s Fresh Foods produces premium refrigerated and frozen soups, entrées, sides and desserts and has been doing so since 1977. Harry’s products are prepared using the highest-quality ingredients, then packaged using a state-of-the-art quick-chill process to lock in flavor and freshness."
“This expansion increases Harry’s capacity on both sides of the country and enables us to offer the same high-quality products with less distance to travel,” Harry’s Fresh Foods CEO Jamie Colbourne said. “Having a 200,000-square-foot facility east of the Rocky Mountains improves efficiency and available delivered shelf life on the company’s fresh, natural and organic products.”
Harry’s Fresh Foods CFO Michael Donovan said, “It has been a pleasure working with TNECD. The staff went out of their way to answer questions and provide the information needed to keep this project moving forward.”
Harry’s Fresh Foods will locate its new production facility in Nashville and is set to be operational by the third quarter of 2016. The new Nashville facility will produce branded and private-label products for club, retail and food-service customers. With this new facility, Harry’s Fresh Foods will be able to reduce travel distance for products, which will have an environmental benefit for all of its products.
Local leaders and partners expressed gratitude to Harry’s Fresh Foods for choosing Nashville as the location for its new production facility.
“I’m excited to welcome Harry’s Fresh Foods to the south Nashville area where their food manufacturing facility will be producing sustainable, locally sourced, environmentally-friendly products for us all to enjoy,” Nashville Mayor Megan Barry said. “Harry’s Fresh Foods’ commitment to creating these jobs in Nashville is truly commendable and shows they will be great community partners in the years to come.”
“TVA and Nashville Electric Service congratulate Harry’s Fresh Foods on its decision to locate in Nashville,” TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development John Bradley said. “We are proud to partner with Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to further TVA’s mission of service to help foster new job opportunities in the Valley.”
Nashville and Davidson County are represented by Speaker Beth Harwell (R – Nashville), Rep. Bo Mitchell (D – Nashville), Rep. Bill Beck (D – Nashville), Rep. Mike Stewart (D – Nashville), Rep. Jason Powell (D – Nashville), Rep. Brenda Gilmore (D – Nashville), Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D – Nashville), Rep. Harold Love (D – Nashville), Rep. Sherry Jones (D – Nashville), Rep. Darren Jernigan (D – Nashville), Sen. Steve Dickerson (R – Nashville), Sen. Ferrell Haile (R – Nashville), Sen. Thelma Harper (D – Nashville) and Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D – Nashville) in the Tennessee General Assembly.