Portales peanut plant in bidding war

A troubled peanut plant in Portales that closed following a nationwide salmonella outbreak is now at the center of a bidding war. 

The plant filed for bankruptcy after the outbreak sickened 40 people in 20 states. The plant closed in October, leaving more than 100 workers without a job. 

In an auction last week, Hampton Farms of North Carolina had the winning bid of $20 million dollars. But just before the sale was complete, a last minute cash offer of $25 million came in from Canada’s Golden Boy Foods. 

It’s up to a federal bankruptcy judge in Albuquerque to decide who gets the plant. Hampton Farms has said it does plan to re-open the plant. Canada’s Golden Boy Foods has not said what it has planned for the plant if it gets the deal.

Portales peanut plant in bidding war