After a whirlwind trip to Tokyo, Japan, that began on June 17 and ended June 20, Indiana Packers Corporation President Ed Nelson and Vice President of Human Resources Jim Hardison were ready to speak to the public about the newly announced $43 million expansion at the Delphi plant.

"We are looking to expand into ready-to-eat products, such as fully cooked hams and lunch meats," Nelson said in a June 21 interview with the Comet.

Nelson said the current expansion project, with a price tag of approximately $69 million, is between 30 and 40 percent completed. It is expected to be finished by the fourth quarter of 2006.

He said the first project naturally led to the second one, which includes internal changes to the plant only. Those changes will allow for "further packaging and value added marketing."

"Our industry is changing dramatically," Nelson said. The expansion would eliminate packaging work done by smaller grocers to get meat ready for sale, unless a custom cut is requested, he said.

"Everyone (grocers) who competes with a store such as Wal-Mart will become more of a specialty store," he said.

Hardison said the projected 270 new jobs created by the expansion project are expected to be filled by the fourth quarter of 2006.

The most recent expansion announced will bring an additional 125 new jobs to the plant. Hardison said the majority of those workers are expected to be brought onboard in the first and second quarters of 2007.

He advised the goal is for all new hires to be completed by the end of the fourth quarter of 2007.

Nelson said the Delphi plant is one of the leaders in the industry as determined by the American Meat Institute in conjunction with the National Safety Council.

He attributes that rating to positive workforce retention and a superb safety program at the plant.