Growth of firm leads to project in Holts Summit

HOLTS SUMMIT, Mo. - Pro Food Systems recently celebrated a company milestone and will undergo changes in the upcoming year.

In the last couple days PFS, which is known for its Champs Chicken and Cooper's Express brands, hired its 100th employee and named one of the "fastest growing companies" by Inc. Magazine for a seventh year.

"It's just reflective of the growth of our business and that we have a culture here that creates the kind of place where people want to work," said Carl Christenson, PFS's creative director. "We don't see any end in sight to our growth."

The company, which started in 1998, now has over 700 quick-serve locations in convenience and grocery stores, like Moser's, across 37 states, according to a press release. In terms of revenue, the company has doubled in size every three years since its conception and shows no signs of stopping- there are currently 10 spots open for hire on the company's website.

Three years ago, the company built a new central office and distribution center on Commerce Drive across from the old one on Greenway Drive. The city of Holts Summit and PFS went into an agreement with the state to improve and expand Greenway by pooling funding, a contract which they will sign Jan. 11.

Once construction begins the road will be expanded from 22 feet wide to 28 feet wide to include a curb and gutter system. The mouth of the road on Route OO will also be expanded to create a larger area to allow an increased truck turning-radius, City Administrator Brian Crane said. A release estimated the total cost of the project at $702,770, with PFS contributing $300,000 of that. The city will provide $142,770 and the final $260,00 will come from a Community Development Block Grant.

"The entrance to Greenway and the overall width of the road to accommodate a growing business isn't conducive," PFS CEO Shawn Burcham said.

The road improvement will help PFS as the business continues to grow and will allow for more commercial development, according to the release.

Plans for the old distribution center and central office on Greenway are underway, and Burcham said the company has budgeted to add between 20 and 25 new jobs in 2016.