Company honors employees/community with celebration
As AlaTrade celebrated 15 years in Phenix City on Friday, November 18th, 2022, the company honored the community and employees who make it successful.
“We are very proud of our team and what they have accomplished over the past 15 years,” said Dave Robinson, Plant Manager. “To take a new facility with a new team and establish a prosperous business that continues 15 years later is a big deal for any company.”
AlaTrade marked the occasion with cake and games for its employees. Phenix City Mayor Eddie Lowe and local media outlets Davis Broadcasting and Phenix Cable were among some of those who joined the celebration.
“The success of our Phenix City operation has always been because of a dedicated workforce,” said Kevin Parnell, Vice President of Operations. “That loyal and dedicated workforce became employees/owners last year, and they are still striving to make us better each day, so we can serve our customers at the highest level possible.”
AlaTrade Phenix City is the youngest of the company’s three Alabama plants. Other locations include Albertville and Boaz. In 2007, the company wanted to move closer to their partners, Tyson, Wayne Farms, and Koch Foods. Phenix City was a central location to plants with these companies, according to John Pittard, President and CEO. However, the local people were the biggest factor in AlaTrade’s choice to build in Phenix City, and they are the reason for the operation’s continued success today.
“We were also attracted to the availability of the workforce,” Pittard said. “We literally had thousands of applicants and some of those people are still with us today, 15 years later. The public officials in Phenix City and Columbus, Ga., were also a big reason we chose this area. They made it as easy as possible to start up a greenfield operation from the ground up.
“Community support is still there today. Hat’s off to the people like Eddie Lowe, mayor of Phenix City, for always supporting AlaTrade and our associates in this community.”
AlaTrade is proud to be part of Phenix City and encourages community involvement as a company and among employees.
“Our operations started with a workforce of 300 employees, and we’re currently at around 600, most of whom have made their homes in this area for many years and are now contributing to this area,” said Randy Dorsett, Director of Human Resources.
“We’re committed to our community, and our employees are actively involved in many civic and nonprofit events. We’ve also partnered with the local schools and universities for training opportunities for their students and our employees. Our plans are to continue to grow these opportunities as we look toward the future.”
