Fit Foodz To Invest $15M, Create 180 Jobs At New Poultry Processing Plant In Tuscaloosa

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority on Thursday announced that Fit Foodz will invest $15 million on a new poultry processing facility in Tuscaloosa, which is expected to create 180 new jobs.

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The new plant will be located on seven acres at 2773 39th Street in Tuscaloosa and will allow the company to better serve its customers in the United States. Fit Foodz also has a footprint that includes Japan, Guam and Europe.

According to its profile on Colliers, the 35,610-square-foot food processing facility, prior to its purchase by Fit Foodz, served as a cold storage warehouse and a tractor trailer storage yard.

“The introduction of Fit Foodz to our community will add to our existing poultry business base
while introducing a new corporate citizen to support our continued economic growth,” said
Norman Crow, who chairs the Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority Board and also serves on the Tuscaloosa City Council.

What's more, the company explained that the new plant will feature a raw processing line and a fully‐cook line, with each employing two shifts. Fit Foodz is also eyeing expansion of the footprint of the existing building on the site, with construction set to begin in the third quarter of this year.

President and founder of Fit Foodz Lenna Castagna said the deep pocket of talent — made possible by colleges and university in Tuscaloosa — adds to a tremendous living environment and makes for an ideal location when looking to expand.

“It is a great location in a great community, and we will have plenty of room to expand,” she said.

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said the opening of the new location is yet another example of the community diversifying its business base and the availability of quality jobs.

"The approximately 180 jobs that will be created upon the opening of this location are well‐paying jobs for a range of skill levels, and represent an excellent opportunity for our workforce,” Maddox said.

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