The 106,000 square foot facility houses the company’s DSD (Direct Store Delivery) operations – the national distribution for both company and private label brands – as well as a manufacturing line capable of processing more than 15 million pounds of potatoes annually.
According to CEO Nevin Dieffenbach, the new plant is the next logical step in the company’s long-term growth strategy.
He said the company will need to employ another 30-40 employees at both its Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania, site and the new Bethel facility to reach its goal to attain a potato processing capacity of 200 million pounds annually.
“The growth of the company over the past few years is allowing us to create more opportunities for our existing team members as well as opportunities for people looking for a new career,” said Mike Marlowe, COO of Dieffenbach’s.
“The market has tremendous growth opportunities. We will continue to grow as fast as we can find the right people to join our team."
Truly enjoyable
Pennsylvania-based Dieffenbach’s Potato Chips was found in 1964 to create ‘Truly Enjoyable Snacks.’
The third generation, family owned and operated kettle chip manufacturer produces well-known brands such as Dieffenbach’s, One Potato, Two Potato and Uglies.
According to the company, Americans throw out uneaten food averaging $165bm annually and spend another $750m a year to dispose of it. This wasted food ends up rotting in landfills and is the single largest component of US municipal solid waste, accounting for a large portion of methane emissions.
Uglies are produced from potatoes that would otherwise have been rejected, however, they are not diseased, rotting or unripe, just disfigured. Dieffenbach’s uglies chips are kettle-cooked in small batches, use only fresh, clean ingredients and are gluten free and Kosher certified.