By Debra J. Groom / The Post-Standard

December 28, 2009, 5:51PM

Fulton, NY -- Birds Eye, including the food plant in Fulton, has been sold to Pinnacle Foods, a private equity company of the Blackstone Group.

Blackstone announced the $1.3 billion purchase of Birds Eye last week. Birds Eye is headquartered in Rochester with other locations in Fulton; Fennville, Mich.; Algona and Tacoma, Wash.; Berlin, Pa.; Waseca, Minn.; and Darien and Green Bay, Wis.

It could not be determined Monday how the sale will affect the Fulton plant. Calls to Birds Eye, Pinnacle and Blackstone were not returned.

The plant in Fulton was founded in 1902 as the Fort Stanwix Canning Co. It went through a number of owners in 107 years, including Kraft General Foods, Dean Foods, Agrilink and Birds Eye.

The Fulton plant employs about 300 full-time workers. During the past eight years, Birds Eye invested more than $5 million in the Fulton plant to more fully automate and expand its food lines. The plant processes frozen vegetables and other food products.

Pinnacle Foods, owned by private equity funds controlled by The Blackstone Group of New York City, manufactures and distributes foods and brands found in 80 percent of American households.

The company’s portfolio includes brands such as Duncan Hines baking mixes and frostings, Vlasic pickles, peppers and relish, Mrs. Butterworth and Log Cabin syrups, Armour canned meats, Swanson and Hungry-Man frozen dinners and entrees, Van de Kamp’s and Mrs. Paul’s frozen seafood, Aunt Jemima frozen breakfasts, Lender’s bagels, and Celeste frozen pizza.