A new Chef Boyardee statue will be unveiled this Saturday in Milton, Pennsylvania, courtesy of Hometown Food Company. The statue, currently wrapped and positioned at the corner of Arch and Mahoning Streets, represents the second Chef Boyardee monument in the borough and will be accessible to the public for photos and visits.
"It's great to have such a local, hometown success story that's now a global brand, and everyone knows Chef Boyardee," said Jessie Novinger, Milton Borough Manager. The unveiling ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, September 13, at 10 a.m., marking a significant moment for the community that played a crucial role in the Chef Boyardee brand's history.
This isn't Milton's first Chef Boyardee statue. In 2013, ConAgra Foods, which previously owned the Boyardee brand, unveiled the original statue. The new statue being installed comes from ConAgra Foods' former campus in Omaha, Nebraska, and is a gift from Hometown Food Company, the brand's current owner.
"Hometown Foods, who is the new buyer of ConAgra, actually reached out to us and offered to bring the statue here, and of course, we were more than happy to have something that was more public-facing so that people could take those quirky, fun photos and bring people to Milton," Novinger explained. The borough manager emphasized that this new location will make it much easier for visitors to access and photograph the statue.
According to Hometown Food Company, Chef Boyardee is based on a real Italian American chef named Hector Boiardi, who built his pasta empire in Milton and launched the plant in 1938, making culinary history. This historical connection makes the statue particularly meaningful for the local community, as it celebrates a hometown success story that became a globally recognized brand.
The strategic placement of the new statue addresses accessibility concerns that existed with the original monument. "I think the original statue being on Hometown Food property is a little discouraging. You're not sure if you're supposed to or allowed to be there, so having one here on Arch Street where you can park easily in the municipal parking lot and hop out and get your photo taken, I think, is great for people," Novinger noted.
Hometown Food Company plans to retain the original Chef Boyardee statue at the Milton plant, while this new statue will serve as a more public-facing attraction. The company and the borough are already planning collaborative marketing efforts to promote the new landmark and attract visitors to Milton.
Following the statue's unveiling, the borough intends to work with Hometown Foods on a social media marketing campaign to promote tourism and community engagement. "They had suggested Instagram and things like that, so I'm sure you'll see some hashtags coming in the future," said Novinger, indicating that the statue will likely become a popular social media destination for visitors seeking unique photo opportunities in Pennsylvania.
