All American Gourmet to Open New Plant

The All American Gourmet Co., an Orange-based maker of frozen dinners, said Tuesday that it plans to open a new production plant in Utah.

Scheduled for completion in late 1986, the Clearfield, Utah plant will employ between 500 and 600 people, primarily in assemblyline jobs, company officials said.

Although the company, which markets the “Budget Gourmet” line of frozen dinners is headquartered locally, its two manufacturing plants are located in Pittsburg and Atlanta.

Utah was one of several western states considered as a site for the new $14-million plant, company officials said, citing lower shipping, water and energy costs as key factors behind the decision.

All American Gourmet, a two-year-old subsidiary of General Host Corp. of Stanford, Conn., went public in September with an offering of 1.35 million shares at $13 each. During the 12-weeks ended July 14, it posted earnings of $1.1 million on revenues of $18 million.