The Raleigh/Durham, N.C., Triangle Business Journal reported that Reser’s Fine Foods, Beaverton, Ore., will begin a three-phase, $15 million expansion at its Halifax County, N.C., plant.

Reser's processes refrigerated prepared salads, dips, side dishes and Mexican foods for packaged retail, in-store deli and foodservice channel sales.

North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue said the project could create 500 additional jobs over the next five years. North Carolina gave Reser's a $1 million grant from the state's "One North Carolina Fund." Such grants require a match from local government and require the recipient to meet job-creation targets.

“We are working hard to create jobs and North Carolina is proud to host a national-brand business like Reser’s Fine Foods, which is building on its success here,” Perdue said. “Our state’s strategic location, skilled workers and top business climate continue to attract growing companies from around the nation.”