USA— Bridgetown Natural Foods, a US-based organic and gluten-free snack brand, has unveiled plans to invest $78.3 million in a manufacturing and distribution facility in Tennessee, a move set to create 219 jobs for locals.
This upcoming facility, which will mark Bridgetown’s second location beyond its West Coast headquarters, will be established on an already existing 300,000 square foot facility at 8051 East Gate Blvd leased by the company.
This new facility will house multiple manufacturing lines, which will produce nearly 100 million pounds of the company’s all-natural snack brands annually.
This expansion is strategically geared towards optimizing distribution to the East Coast, resulting in shorter delivery times and reduced shipping costs.
Even though the statement hints on creating 219 full-time jobs, the company claims that the actual number might eclipse this, bringing the total of employees to surpass 600 from the current 350.
Tennessee state Governor Bill Lee has already commented on the plan, according to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) website.
Production at the new plant is slated to commence in July, as confirmed by Bridgetown’s CEO, Dan Klock.
Reflecting on the decision-making process, Klock disclosed that Bridgetown Natural Foods considered several other states before finalizing their choice. “We looked at eight different states,” Klock stated.
“We went through a process of meeting with economic development folks at the state and local level, looking at different sites, trying to learn a little bit more about the community. We spent a week here looking at different buildings. We spent some time with the state and local representatives,” he added.
As for the hiring process, Klock mentioned that recruitment for the new location will kick off by the end of April, most of which will be full time positions.
“We don’t do a lot of part-time. We’ve hired a couple of members of the leadership team already and then we’ll be hiring production operators, mechanics, sanitation folks, body technicians, and all the factory team,” he emphasized.
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