Mart Frozen Foods Opens $65-Million Food Manufacturing Facility in Southern Idaho

RUPERT, Idaho — Mart Frozen Foods, a subsidiary of The Mart Group, cut the ribbon Oct. 2 on a $65-million high-tech food manufacturing facility in Rupert, Idaho. Located in Southern Idaho's "Magic Valley," the new 100,000-square-foot plant produces and packages frozen, fully baked Idaho potatoes known as OH!Tatoes.

The new facility is located adjacent to The Mart Group's headquarters, bringing the company's total employment in Rupert to more than 230 people. The new Mart Frozen Foods facility will create 80 full-time jobs and have an estimated annual economic impact of $11.15 million.

"Through innovated technology, OH!Tatoes has perfected the art of freezing fresh Idaho potatoes so consumers can enjoy fluffy, flavorful baked potatoes in minutes," said Julian Critchfield, president and CEO of The Mart Group. "This expansion allows us to vertically integrate to provide the unmatched quality of baked Idaho potatoes in an easier format, with a longer shelf life, than ever before."

Home to food giants Chobani, Clif Bar, McCain Foods and others, Southern Idaho's eight-county "Magic Valley" region leads the state's agribusiness industry — contributing nearly half of Idaho's nearly $11.3 billion in annual agricultural receipts.

"The Mart Group's investment in this new frozen potato technology and production facility is a reflection of the immense promise this region holds for incubating and launching the world's most innovative agricultural products," said Idaho State Senator Kelly Anthon. "Idaho has a rich history of growing some of the top agricultural products in the world — including most famously, our potatoes."

Branded "All Things Food," the Southern Idaho region boasts a strong agricultural base of potatoes, row crops, sugar beets, barley, wheat, oats, seed production, pork processing, dairy production, aquaculture, food science, and lamb, mink and honey production.

The region offers food companies the infrastructure to process, package and transport agriculture products. In 2015, Southern Idaho became the nation's fourth and smallest region to earn the prestigious Federal Manufacturing Community Designation in the food category.

OH!Tatoes will be the first-of-its-kind whole baked frozen potato available to consumers in North America at stores including Publix, Harris Teeter and Associated Foods. More information about OH!Tatoes can be found at http://www.ohtatoes.com.