Public (FAQ)

Q. Can the current building be modernized so a new facility doesn’t have to be built?
A.Unfortunately it cannot. The new building will be constructed using guidelines and techniques that didn’t exist when the current building was built. The advances in green technology, utilizing recycled materials, and progression in energy-efficient building practices dictate that a new facility be built.

Additionally, a major goal of the project is the consolidation of the two facilities and our corporate headquarters into one location. The current site is not conducive to this centralization.

Q. What will be done with the Canajoharie and Fort Plain sites once the new facility is built? 
A. We are working with local officials to determine the best reuses possible for the existing facilities; we are at the early stages of this process, but some options being considered for reuse include fruit processing or a warehousing and distribution center. We are working diligently with local and state government agencies as well as people in the community to develop a reuse plan for the existing structures.

Q. How much is Hero/Beech-Nut investing in the project?
A. Hero Group, Inc. and Hero/Beech-Nut are investing approximately $124 million to build a new state-of-the-art, 550,000-square-foot manufacturing and processing facility in the Town of Florida, NY. The new facility will not only be the corporate headquarters for Hero/Beech-Nut, but also the North American headquarters for Hero Group, Inc. 

Q. Hero/Beech-Nut is eligible for $104 million in benefits from the Industrial Development Agency, Empire Zone and State Assembly grants, as well as a 13-year PILOT program. How much will Hero/Beech-Nut contribute back into the local economy via taxes? 
A. We expect that Hero/Beech-Nut will generate approximately $200 million to the New York State economy over the next few years. 

Q. What are some of the economic benefits of this project?
A. There are significant benefits to the local community, the region, and New York State, including:

• The retention of more than 350 jobs and the creation of up to 135 new jobs. 
• The creation of approximately 400 new construction jobs during the multi-year construction phase of the project. 
• An increase in the amount of fruits and vegetables purchased from local agri-businesses and farmers, as well as opportunities with other operational aspects of our new facility, including warehousing, food processing and transportation logistics. 
• A significant economic impact on local companies, including the need for food services, garbage disposal services, janitorial services, landscaping services, and a host of other requirements for our new facility as well as our workforce.

Q. How long will the construction phase take? 
A. We expect the project to be completed in the summer of 2009 with the installation of equipment immediately following the construction.

Q. When will the new facility be fully operational? When do you expect to close the Canajoharie and Fort Plain sites?
A. We expect to be transitioning the work to the new site in the late summer of 2009, with all work completely transferred by April 2010. We plan to work with local officials to determine the best reuses possible for the existing facilities. The best plan would be for a new business or businesses to move into the old site once we’ve transitioned all work to the new site.

Q. Will you hire union employees for the construction phase of the project? Will you hire non-New York companies?
A. As per our standard operating procedures, we will issue an RFP and will consider all bids from union and non-union businesses. The bids will undergo a standard analysis procedure to accept the bids that best address what is outlined in the Request For Proposal. Where possible, we will favor local and New York State based companies.”

Q. Will jobs be offered to current employees and do you expect all of the employees to make the move to the new facility? 
A. All of our current employees in Canajoharie and Fort Plain will have the opportunity to work at the new facility. Though we have no way of knowing how many employees will decide not to make the move, we plan to offer career counseling services to employees who decide not to stay with us through our internal Human Resources department. We will also work closely with local and state agencies to assist in efforts to find new jobs for these employees.

Q. Hero/Beech-Nut has an aging workforce and the new facility will require new technologies; what is being done to train and maintain a productive workforce?
A. We are currently exploring new partnerships and programs such as creating a training and apprenticeship program with the local community college and technical institute. We are also partnering with a local day care facility so that our employees and other working families in the community have more options for their day care needs.  In addition, we will be working with local business organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce, to identify other training programs and opportunities for our workforce.

Q. What other New York companies or industries can expect to benefit from this project?
A. We’re very excited about working with the agriculture sector in New York and increasing the amount of locally grown produce in our processes. To make that happen, we are working with the Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Q. Is Hero/Beech-Nut committed to being in New York State over the long term?
A. Beech-Nut has been in New York for over a century and our hope is to be here for generations to come. We will continue and maintain a strong presence as an employer and good corporate citizen. Our new manufacturing and processing facility will keep us here long-term.

Q. What about construction impacts, such as noise and lighting?
A. All impacts related to the construction of this facility have been thoroughly analyzed as part of the environmental review of the project as required by New York State law. We anticipate these impacts to be minimal and we will do our best to further reduce these impacts.

Q. What about truck traffic? Are deliveries going to increase? And what impacts will truck traffic have on local roads and bridges?
A. Our goal for all operational aspects of this project is to have as little impact on the surrounding community as possible. To determine the impact of truck traffic, a traffic study has been conducted as part of the environmental review..

Q. Are there any wetland issues on the site?
A. Yes, there is approximately one acre of federal wetlands and we are working with the Army Corps of Engineers to implement a plan to mitigate these impacts.

Q. How is Hero/Beech-Nut performing in such a competitive climate?
A. The company is performing extremely well and we are convinced our new manufacturing and process facility will only enhance our performance and reputation as an industry leader. We continue to gain market share in the United States. In addition, we also are significantly reinvesting in the Hero/Beech-Nut brand itself as we believe that commercial success is one of the keys to ensuring good jobs in Montgomery County and New York State.

Q. There is a housing development being constructed next to the site of your new facility; have you received any complaints that your project will impact the quality of life there?
A. We have not. In fact, we have met with the developer of that project who enthusiastically supports our project. As we grow our workforce, this housing development would be an ideal location for these employees. We will also be mitigating any impacts of our facility through buffering and other aesthetically pleasing landscaping and greenspaces.

Q. Can you provide some information on the Latham offices?
A. The current Latham office is serving as temporary corporate headquarters for Hero/Beech-Nut until our new building is constructed. We anticipate moving to our new headquarters in the Town of Florida, NY, at the end of 2009.