Governor Bev Perdue has announced that Townsends Inc., a leading international producer and marketer of poultry products, will expand in Davie County. The company plans to create 103 jobs and invest $700,000 over the next three years. The announcement was made possible in part by a $250,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.

She said: "Food production and economic growth go hand in hand in North Carolina, a tradition underscored by Townsends' expansion in Mocksville. Companies like this one continue to find success and expand in our state, attracted by our high-quality workforce and business-friendly environment."

Townsends, a 118-year-old poultry company headquartered in Delaware, supplies value-added chicken products to the domestic and international food service and retail markets. The company has a significant presence in North Carolina with three plants located in Pittsboro, Siler City and Mocksville that employ about 1,500 people. Additionally, the company's poultry operations support an extensive grower base in the local area.

The Mocksville facility, operating as Crestwood Farms, a division of Townsends, is the core of the company's expansion into value-added chicken products and key to its strategic growth. The company plans to add a production line of fully cooked products, increasing its capacity by approximately 25 per cent. Currently, Crestwood Farms employs about 267 workers.

"Townsends is proud to be part of the North Carolina business community. We appreciate all the hard work and time everyone has put into this project. Thank you, North Carolina, for your support," said John Pastrana, vice president of operations for Townsends.