EATON — A groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, Oct. 7, kicked off the largest expansion project in Henny Penny’s 62-year history, as it continues, according to officials “investing in the future.”
Steve Maggard, Henny Penny Executive Vice President, welcomed those in attendance at the event, a crowd which included state, county, and local elected officials, representatives from several agencies from around Preble County and the state, and Henny Penny employee-owners.
“This project is for you,” Maggard said of those employee-owners during the ceremony. He called the project “the biggest, most exciting project” he had been a part of his nearly four decades with the company.
The project includes a 150,000 square foot expansion of Henny Penny’s Eaton Building, a 35 percent increase of the company’s current space. The project also includes a 25,000 square foot renovation of its Wagner Building. At completion, Henny Penny will have a total of 585,000 square feet on its 60-acre campus.
The project is estimated to bring at least 70 new jobs.
“We’re on an accelerated growth pace as we continue powering the world’s most demanding kitchens,” Rob Connelly, CEO of Henny Penny, said. “The expansion of our Eaton-based world headquarters with additional space for production, innovation and employee well-being sets us up for another 62 years of success.”
“We’ve been so fortunate for 62 years,” Connelly said on Monday, emphasizing the impact Henny Penny has made on the world. “And what we are focused on, for the next 62 years, is making an even bigger impact.”
“We must continue to invest in our people, and our facility,” Connelly stressed.
“Our success is state-of-the-art production and making lives of restaurant operators better by bringing them innovative solutions,” said Maggard. “This expansion will help us continue developing the world’s most reliable, easy-to-use equipment.”
“In addition to expanding our production and innovation capabilities, our expanded space will support our efforts to help all employees be the best versions of themselves,” Jennifer Leen, Henny Penny’s Director of Well-Being added in a press release.
Henny Penny’s last expansion was in 2014, when the company completed a 45,000 square foot training center.
