New fruit processing plant headed for Rupert

A Portuguese fruit preparation and processing company will open its first U.S. plant in Rupert late next year.

Frulact, founded in 1987, develops custom-made fruit preparations for leading food labels in the dairy, beverages, ice cream and industrial pastry market throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Construction on the 200,000-square-foot processing plant will break ground in late 2013 and wrap up in about a year. No construction costs were disclosed.

The plant will employ about 100 people, said Jan Rogers, the executive director of the Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization.  The company operates industrial sites in Morocco, South Africa, France and Portugal. Frulact Group employs more than 500 people worldwide, the company said.

Company officials said other Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, and Nevada locations were considered because of its wastewater treatment facilities.

“Rupert was able to stay competitive against many other communities thanks to Rupert voters’ support of major waste water facility upgrades that were completed in 2012,” she said.

The factory will be Frulact’s first in the United States, company officials said.