US – Manna Capital Partners, a minority-owned business enterprise and investment firm, has announced its new affiliate Manna Beverages and Ventures (MB&V) will invest US$600 million in building a beverage production and distribution center in Montgomery.
Manna Capital Partners, founded by Bridgeman and Kevin Attkisson, concentrates on investment and acquisition possibilities across multiple industries, with an emphasis on sustainability and creating opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses, according to a press release from the Montgomery Chamber.
Manna Capital Partners created Manna Beverages and Ventures to be a full-service supply chain partner for national and regional brand portfolios, with an intense focus on startups.
The company will offer beverage companies a comprehensive packaging platform and warehousing, according to Manna Capital Partners.
Dubbed Montgomery’s “beverage park”, the facility is expected to create 280 full-time jobs and will be owned and operated by Manna Beverages & Ventures. The first bottles are expected to come off the line in 2025.
The facility will encompass more than 180 acres in a new industrial park developed by Montgomery’s economic development team.
The MB&V beverage park will include a 1.7 million-square-foot production facility capable of producing both alcoholic and non-alcoholic products, along with distribution operations.
The Montgomery facility will include a research and development center with a bottling line that will provide entrepreneurs, with a focus on women-owned and minority businesses, a place to test new products.
MB&V is working with a consultant to incorporate as many sustainability features as possible into the facility’s design.
Through this facility, MB&V is committed to reducing its carbon footprint, minimizing landfill use and impact, and plans to use renewable energy when possible.
Ulysses L. Bridgeman, Manna Capital Partners’ managing partner said: “We are excited and proud to build our facility in Montgomery with our affiliate, Manna Beverages & Ventures. Our goal is to be the leading total beverage supply chain company in North America while operating with the highest quality, sustainable capabilities needed to produce beverages for world-class brand owners.”
MB&V fills the gap for major brands who want to be asset-light, and nimble and make a difference in their communities by hiring minority and women-owned businesses.”
The investment announcement is made at a time when the Secretary of Alabama Department of Commerce, Greg Canfield, notes that the U.S. beverage packaging market is expanding rapidly.
He expressed happiness that Manna has selected Alabama as it moves to capitalize on this trend with its large-scale manufacturing and distribution operation in Montgomery.
MB&V said it selected Montgomery because of the state’s dedication to sustainable supply chain development, and the fast, direct access the location provides to Southeast markets.
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