NORTH SIOUX CITY -- Food processing has long been one of the bread-and-butter industries of North Sioux City, which is why Paige Petersen thinks a new frozen burrito company will be a natural fit for the community.
Petersen, the city's economic development director, helped bring Red’s All Natural Burritos to the southeast South Dakota city about 2,500.
“We are really excited to have them here,” she said. “It’s kind of fun to have a fun, fresh unique company that’s all organic — it’s kind of a one a kind for our area.”
Based out Franklin, Tennessee, Red’s All Natural produces a variety of frozen products, including burritos, bowls, enchiladas and taquitos, some of which are organic, dairy-free and gluten-free. The company’s products are found in more than 40 retail chains across the country.
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The burrito maker will occupy space at 803 N. Derby Lane most recently occupied Portionables Inc., division of Sargento Foods, according to Ellen Kaplan, a Century 21 ProLink senior commercial sales associate who represented the building’s owners, Lion Realty, in the negotiations with Red’s.
Sargento closed the North Sioux City facility in 2013.
While she was not able to disclose exactly how many jobs Red’s is bringing to North Sioux City, Petersen said “it was a good number for our area” and that these were quality positions being created.
Wrapping up a deal with the frozen burrito maker was considered a big win for North Sioux City, something Gov. Dennis Daugaard acknowledged in a press release shortly after the deal was announced.
“It’s my pleasure to welcome Red’s to North Sioux City,” he said. “Red’s CEO, Mike Adair, made the right choice to establish production capabilities in South Dakota. I am confident our workforce and business climate will help Red’s All Natural achieve even greater success.”
Chris McGowan, president of The Siouxland Initiative, a regional economic development entity, echoed the governor's sentiments.
“The company’s executive management team recognized and identified with the exceptional number of successful food processing companies that call this community home," McGowan said in the release. "To their credit, state and community leaders recognized that this is an extraordinary company with a unique corporate philosophy that represents an ideal fit for southeast South Dakota.”
Adair, in a release, also said he was happy to expand his company to the Rushmore State.
“We’ve had a very warm welcome from everyone in South Dakota, and we’ve been impressed with the work ethic of the people and the skillsets they bring to the food industry,” Adair said. “We’ve seen tremendous sales growth over the last several years and we look forward to continue that momentum and get production underway in North Sioux City.”
Adair started Red’s in 2007 after tasting one of his wife’s homemade burritos. The company is named after the couple’s rescue dog.
As part of the deal, the state Economic Development Board approved an undisclosed amount of financial assistance to Red's through the state's Revolving Economic Development and Initiative and Reinvestment Payment programs.
