Despite rainy skies on Thursday, the weather was perfect underneath the tent where Great Western Products in Pana officially cut the ribbon to open their multi-million dollar plant that makes a variety of oil and cooking products for the concession industry.   Ground-breaking took place last fall on the facility, that employs around 50 with expectations to add jobs in the Christian County community.

The new building replaced a building west of Assumption that burned 2 years ago.

Great Western Vice President and General Manager Rocky Franklin told the group of employees and dignitaries the Pana expansion will enable the company to expand their offerings in the cooking industry.

Kirby Casner, the City of Pana’s Economic Development Director and also part of the Pana Industrial Development Corporation, was instrumental in landing the facility to build in Pana’s Industrial Park.  She told those gathered landing the Great Western plant to Pana was a big deal.

Doug Woltman with Woltman Construction, general contractor for the project, told attendees building the Great Western Plant from scratch took a lot of work.

Great Western Products was acquired by Performance Food Group, or P-F-G, in March of 2021.   Pat Haggerty with P-F-G told the crowd Thursday his company empowers local plant management to make decisions on how the facility operates.

Haggerty said he expects the Pana facility to double its present size of one-hundred thousand square feet, in coming years.

Following the remarks from the 4, the ribbon was officially cut to open the plant.   Lunch and tours were provided those in attendance after the ceremony.