[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12399]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      KRAFT FOODS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. KIRK. Mr. President, I stand today to honor the Kraft 
Foods Group, Inc. plant and its dedicated employees in Champaign, IL, 
as they celebrate its 50th anniversary.
  This Champaign plant has the unique distinction of being Kraft's 
flagship facility, employing more than 1,100 of my fellow citizens of 
Illinois, and proudly producing more than any other Kraft plant in the 
country. From the time it opened in 1963, this facility has grown in 
both size and production. For generations, millions of Americans have 
enjoyed the products made in Champaign, from Miracle Whip and Velveeta, 
to Kraft Singles and Cheese Whiz. The plant continues to expand its 
output, with new varieties of pasta, dressing and cheese being added to 
their production line in 2012, and earlier this year, Kraft chose to 
dedicate their entire Velveeta production to this single facility.
  The Kraft Foods Group has called Illinois home since its founding in 
1903, and Champaign has been a critical part of this company for more 
than half of that time. Kraft has so greatly contributed to Champaign's 
economic climate, helping to make the city this plant calls home a 
great place to live and work. Likewise, the people of Champaign helped 
make Kraft great. Our State is proud of all that Kraft produces, but we 
are especially proud of the ingenuity, industry, and drive that this 
plant's workers have embodied for 50 years. It is clear that because 
Kraft's Champaign employees have been dedicated to achieving success, 
this plant has continued to thrive after half a century.
  In closing, I ask all my colleagues to join me in congratulating the 
Kraft Foods Group on reaching this incredible milestone and honoring 
the employees at their acclaimed flagship plant.

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