Organic frozen food manufacturer Amy’s Kitchen has hired a general manager for its White City plant, which it now expects to open in September.

Pat Holtz, a 25-year veteran in the frozen food industry, will oversee the Amy’s Kitchen Southern Oregon factory, the company confirmed Tuesday.

Holtz was most recently vice president of supply chain for McCain Foods USA and previously a plant manager for the $6 billion company’s facility in Appleton, Wis., where he resides.

"We talked to a lot of very talented people and when all was said and done, we wanted someone with a deep frozen food background and someone that would fit in Jackson County," said Scott Reed, Amy’s Kitchen chief operations officer. "Pat has a tremendous background in the frozen food industry and has been with major food manufacturers over the last 25 years,"

Holtz will work at Amy’s Kitchen’s Santa Rosa, Calif., corporate headquarters before moving to Southern Oregon later this year.

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"I have not visited Medford, but I know the West a bit," Holtz said in a phone interview Tuesday. "I’ve spent a fair bit of time in Idaho and Montana. When I was in the Ore- Ida division, we had a plant in Boise and I’ve been hunting elk in Montana the last 25 years."

Reed said Amy’s executives looked for someone with a broad understanding of food manufacturing and plant operations and Holtz’s supply chain knowledge will come in handy as well. Holtz oversaw McCain Foods’ nationwide purchasing, planning, and packaging groups, along with warehousing, supply chain finance and customer service.

Holtz previously was a supply chain director for H.J. Heinz Co. in Wisconsin.

Holtz said he was intrigued by changes in the food industry, spurred by companies like Amy’s Kitchen, which focuses on organic foods.

"The marketplace is changing dramatically and quite quickly," Holtz said. "There are a lot more health-conscious folks these days with all the allergens you read about in many things we eat. Amy’s has a penchant to provide something different, better and more heart healthy."

Reed said a couple of other senior managers for the Medford site have been hired, but their appointments won’t be announced immediately.

Amy’s Kitchen has sustained 20 to 25 percent revenue growth in recent years and recorded more than $125 million in sales during fiscal 2005 that ended June 30, 2005.

In December of 2004, the company purchased 50 acres in Whetstone Industrial Park from the city of Medford for $350,000.

The manufacturer employs 800 in Santa Rosa and plans to hire up to 300 people in Jackson County during the first year of production.

Originally, company officials thought the Medford site, which will produce pizzas and soups, could be open this spring. The price for the 165,000-square-foot plant is a hefty $40 million — $20 million for building and $20 million for equipment — but Reed said S&B James Construction has kept costs under control.

"We knew that material costs would be going up," Reed said. "But we’re not in situation where we are surprised every day."

Construction should begin once final permits are obtained in a few weeks, Reed said.

"We’ll be setting up an office within a couple of months," Reed said. "Probably on the plant property."

Reach reporter Greg Stilesat 776-4463 or e-mail business@mailtribune.com.