Hormel opens Dubuque, Iowa plant

AUSTIN, Minn. — Hormel Foods Corp. officially opens its new $80 million plant in Dubuque, Iowa Tuesday — the first plant the company has built from the ground up in more than a decade.

The plant has been operating for a couple months, but will host a grand opening. It's already producing microwaveable meals. Hormel CEO Jeff Ettinger says they will likely add a canning line in the fall, which will boost employment from about 90 to 200 workers.