Starbucks breaks ground on $170-million Georgia plant
by CanadianManufacturing.com Staff
The iconic coffee company will also invest $200, 000 in local infrastructure
SEATTLE & AUGUSTA, Ga.—Starbucks Coffee Co. today broke ground on its first company-owned manufacturing facility in the world to produce soluble products
The $172 million “soluble” plant in Augusta, Ga. is expected to create 140 manufacturing jobs as well as hundreds of indirect jobs related to construction, shipping and other supply chain functions.
Slated for completion in early 2014, the facility will produce products currently manufactured abroad, including Starbucks VIA Ready Brew and the coffee base for Frappuccino and other Starbucks ready-to-drink beverages.
The plant will be Starbucks fifth manufacturing facility in the U.S., adding to the four roasting plants which currently employ more than 830 employees.
The LEED certified, 180,000-sq.-ft. plant will produce up to 4,000 tonnes per year.
The company will also invest $200,000 in community programs focused on building long-term infrastructure.
The Augusta Chronical reports that Starbucks qualified for state incentives for employee training, job credits and tax credits for using the Port of Savannah to import raw materials and export product.
