Mar 15, 2006 9:30 AM, from staff and wire reports

North Side Foods, a producer of fully cooked pork sausage products and a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, plans to expand its manufacturing facility in Cumming GA.

"For several years the Cumming plant has been experiencing significant growth, and the time has come for us to expand our operations here," said Robert Hofmann, president of North Side Foods.

The expansion, set for completion by December 2006, will increase processing and warehouse space by more than 40,000 square feet to allow North Side Foods to double its current production of breakfast sausage. The new production line will include space for additional increases and will employ new automation. This expansion also will let the firm hire more than 55 new employees, who will be trained through Georgia's Quick Start program.