Apr 28, 2006 9:52 AM, from staff and wire reports

Frozen vegetable company Gourmet Express plans to relocate its manufacturing operation from Gridley IL to Greenville KY, a move that should create 200 jobs in the coming two years.

The firm will renovate a 312,000-square-foot plant that had been operated by the SuperValu grocery chain. Total investment in the renovation will be $7.3 million.

Based in Homewood AL, Gourmet Express packages and markets frozen vegetables with the Gourmet Dining label.

Under the Kentucky Rural Economic Development Act, the company obtained preliminary approval from the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority for tax benefits of up to $5 million.