Bell and Evans of Fredericksburg, Lebanon Country have already seen double digit growth in their business but will soon be able to process 2.5 million birds weekly, up from one million, reports The Morning Call.

Currently employing 1,200 people, the company, which has a name in antibiotic-free, organic and gluten-free chicken products, is expected to require a further 1,500 more.

This will make Bell and Evans the biggest private employer in the County and would follow Perdue’s closure of its Freidricksburg processing plant which will cost 650 jobs.