Allen Harim will not process chickens at the former Vlasic pickle plant, following opposition by residents.
The company announced it plans to continue to use its Millsboro facility as a warehouse and storage location, and will not pursue plans to process live chickens at the site.
“Our company has a strategic plan that guides us in every decision we make, and we have concluded that our best course of action in Millsboro is to not process live chickens,” Allen Harim CEO Steve Evans said. “We have retained a commercial real estate broker to help us lease the space moving forward.”
Evans said Allen Harim will continue to honor its commitment to clean up water pollution at the site. The company had never formally announced it would operate a processing plant at the site and had stressed that fact at various times.
“This is great economic development news for Sussex County,” said John McClellan, senior advisor for Sperry Van Ness/Miller Commercial Real Estate, who along with Henry Hanna, will be marketing the property. “This is an extremely attractive large space that offers rail access, high ceilings, multi-loading configurations, high electrical capacity, and it’s located in business-friendly Delaware.”
Allen Harim will continue to use some of the 470,000 square foot building for storage and warehousing. The company purchased the former Vlasic pickle plant from Pinnacle Foods in 2014. Recent court challenges to state permits at the facility have all been ruled in the company’s favor.
