Danville company to be acquired by Idaho firm

A Danville-based company will soon be acquired by a major producer of salad dressings and other products.

Sandpoint, Idaho-based Litehouse Inc. is investing $46 million to buy and expand Sky Valley Foods in Danville. Sky Valley Foods sells dressings, condiments, sauces and organic sodas. The deal will be finalized June 1st. 

Danville will become Litehouse ‘s first East Coast production facility, creating 160 jobs over the next five years. Litehouse also plans retain Sky Valley Foods’ 50 employees.

Litehouse makes salad dressings, dips, cheese, herbs and other packaged products throughout North America.

The employee-owned company has five other manufacturing facilities in the United States, in Michigan, Utah and Idaho.

Gov. Ralph Northam approved a $600,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund for the project. The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission also has approved a $340,000 grant and a $220,000 loan for the expansion.

Additionally, the company is eligible for state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program and Sales and Use tax exemptions on manufacturing equipment. The Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP) will provide funding and services to train Litehouse employees.

Utah and South Carolina were also considered during the site selection process.