Cargill announced this week that it has officially broken ground on a $12 million, 11,700 sq. ft. expansion at its innovative cooked egg facility in Mason City, Iowa. The popularity of the products made at the facility, especially baked or cooked egg entrees and patties, necessitated the expansion to meet foodservice and food ingredient customers’ needs and to satisfy consumer demand. The expansion will result in 44 jobs being added to the more than 250 existing positions, the company said.

“Producing innovative, protein-rich, egg-based foods at our Mason City facility continues to create excitement in the marketplace and generate growth momentum for our customers and Cargill,” facility general manager Jessica Reith said. “Helping our customers deliver high-quality, nutritious, delicious and affordable egg protein to consumers has led to multiple expansions since the facility opened in 2001, with three dozen employees and the desire to successfully grow the business.”

Cargill’s Mason City facility produces refrigerated liquid pasteurized eggs, precooked frozen entrees and precooked frozen scrambled eggs. It is one of four egg processing facilities owned by the company, with two in Minnesota and another in Michigan, where a $27 million expansion was completed in May 2016.

“We continue to invest in our business and in the community,” Reith said. “The community also continues to invest in us, making it a win-win situation. We know that for Cargill to prosper, our customers and the communities where we have a presence must thrive. Helping communities flourish has been part of our cultural fabric dating back to Cargill’s founding more than 150 years ago. Our goal is to continue nourishing people, animals and the planet in a safe, responsible and sustainable way for another 150 years.”