Conagra Brands Announces Plans To Build New Innovation Center In Chicago

CHICAGO, Sept. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) announced plans to build The Conagra Brands Center for Food Design in Chicago at 350 N. Orleans Street, located next to its existing headquarters in The Merchandise Mart. The new 40,000 square foot innovation center is an expansion of the company's existing state-of-the-art Research & Development and Culinary capabilities and will focus on innovation related to snacking, one of the fastest-growing occasions in food. The facility will combine culinary, and food and packaging design expertise in a space that enables rapid development of contemporary, on-trend products.

"Conagra Brands' $2 billion snacks business is one of the largest and fastest growing in the food industry," said Tom McGough, executive vice president and co-chief operating officer for Conagra Brands. "Our strong snacking portfolio is positioned for long-term growth and we expect the capabilities in this new facility to enable us to create even more innovative products that our consumers will love."

"The Conagra Brands Center for Food Design in Chicago will be a fresh, collaborative space with state-of-the-art capabilities to provide our talented team with the right resources to help grow Conagra's snacking business," said Corey Berends, senior vice president, Research & Development for Conagra Brands. "In addition, the expansive kitchen and tasting area will be an ideal place to collaborate with our customers and develop new food solutions."

The Conagra Brands Center for Food Design in Chicago is scheduled to officially open in the first quarter of calendar year 2020 and will house up to 50 employees, including food and packaging designers and members of the company's culinary team. Conagra Brands currently has approximately 550 people who work in The Merchandise Mart. Conagra Brands will continue to operate The Center for Food Design and Technology in Omaha, Neb., which will focus on Conagra's expanded frozen, refrigerated, shelf-stable meals as well as condiments and enhancers. Omaha will also remain the R&D hub for the company's food safety, and technology development teams.

About Conagra Brands 
Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG), headquartered in Chicago, is one of North America's leading branded food companies. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Conagra Brands combines a rich heritage of making great food with a sharpened focus on innovation. The company's portfolio is evolving to satisfy people's changing food preferences. Conagra's iconic brands, such as Birds Eye®, Marie Callender's®, Banquet®, Healthy Choice®, Slim Jim®, Reddi-wip®, and Vlasic®, as well as emerging brands, including Angie's® BOOMCHICKAPOP®, Duke's®, Earth Balance®, Gardein®, and Frontera®, offer choices for every occasion. For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com.

Note on Forward-looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. These forward-looking statements include, among others, expectations about future business plans, prospective performance and opportunities.  Readers of this document should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. Many factors could affect our actual financial results and cause them to vary materially from the expectations contained in the forward-looking statements, including those set forth in this document. These risks, uncertainties, and factors include, among other things, risks related to the success of Conagra Brands' innovation and marketing investments and Conagra Brands' ability to otherwise achieve its business strategies, and other risks described in Conagra Brands' reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements included in this document, which speak only as of the date of this document. We undertake no responsibility to update these statements, except as required by law.

For more information, please contact:
Dan Hare
Conagra Brands
312-549-5355
[email protected]

SOURCE Conagra Brands, Inc.