Prime Inc. buys former pickle plant

Last edited 5:46 p.m., April 4, 2013

Springfield-based over-the-road transportation company Prime Inc. has purchased a more than 70,000-square-foot former pickle plant in north Springfield, according to a commercial agent representing the buyer.

Gregg Stancer of Nixa-based Gregg Stancer Realty said the building at 2848 N. Le Compte Road sits on more than 23 acres, 18 acres of which is paved.  

Stancer, who represented Prime in the transaction, said the sale closed on March 29. He declined to disclose the purchase price of the plant. The property was listed by R.B. Murray Co. for $2.95 million and was owned by California-based Bell-Carter Foods Inc., which shut down the plant by early 2012.

Stancer referred further questions about Prime Inc.'s interest in the property to General Counsel Steve Crawford, who did not return requests for comment by deadline.

The plant had produced pickles and relishes for restaurants and chain stores sold under the Bay Valley Foods name until 2011, according to Springfield Business Journal archives. As recently as 2002, it had been the long-time home of J.L. DeGraffenreid & Sons LLC.

According to the listing, the former plant features refrigerated and dry storage warehouses, wet production capabilities and offices. Ross Murray, vice president of R.B. Murray Co., confirmed via email that Bob Murray Jr. represented the seller. He said the property was on the market for roughly 12 months, but declined to disclose the sale price.[[In-content Ad]]