Sibley, Iowa — The former Iowa Drying and Processing plant in Sibley, more commonly referred as the “blood plant,” has been sold to a company from the St. Louis area.
International Ingredient Corporation has purchased the Sibley facility, with plans to revamp it and begin manufacture of some of their products. Mark Warren is Vice President of Marketing for International Ingredient Corporation. He tells us about that company.
(As above) “We are about a 45-year-old company based out of the St. Louis area, with numerous production sites scattered around the country, most of which are serving the livestock and pet food industry with ingredients that are components of the finished products in those industries.”
Warren talks about his company’s plans fore their newly-acquired Sibley facility.
(As above) “The site in Sibley will complement some of those sites that we already have that do similar processes that we plan to do at Sibley. Primarily, drying and processing cheese products that go into the pet food industry and into the calf milk replacer industry.”
He says it will be about six months before the Sibley facility is up and operational.
(As above) “During that time we will make some renovations to the plant, bring in some new components to the plant, do a little fixing-up if you will of the plant from it’s current condition, do some new hiring. The plan would be to have it operational by early October.”
Warren says they expect to create about 22 jobs by the time the Sibley facility begins operation, including the five remaining employees of the plant’s former operator whom they have hired.
(As above) “We’re excited and optimistic about being able to attract good employees. We feel we’ve got an excellent benefit package and very competitive pay rates, so we’re hopeful that we can get a cadre of employees by early October that are enthused about what we want to do there and can be long-term players for us.”
He says International Ingredient Corporation is excited about becoming part of the Sibley community and have received a warm welcome from city officials.
(As above) “We’re excited about it. The City Fathers, if you will…we’ve met with the mayor and council, the city administrator…and we’re very excited about the welcome we’ve had so far. And again, it’s our hope to have things up and running again by early October. That’s the plan.”
Warren says International Ingredient Corporation took possession of the Sibley plant last week.
