Mar 17, 2006 8:57 AM, from staff and wire reports

Nestlé Prepared Foods Co plans to invest $19.7 million in new production equipment at the company’s Jonesboro AR manufacturing facility.

With this investment, the company will begin to manufacture its Hot Pockets brand sandwiches in Jonesboro, besides the Stouffer's and Lean Cuisine frozen prepared meals produced there since the facility opened in 2003. Nestlé employs almost 400 workers at the site. It expects to add about 65 new positions by the end of 2006 and another 35 to 45 positions in early 2007.

Construction on the new production line is expected to begin immediately with hiring starting later in 2006. The company plans to be making Hot Pockets brand products in Jonesboro by the first quarter of 2007.