Food & Beverage Plant Openings, Closings for August 2023

August saw closures, expansions, and other notable developments among the big players in food and beverage manufacturing. Here are some of the highlights drawn from the pages of Packaging Digest’s sister publication Powder & Bulk Solids. Listed with the most recent news at the top, click on the hot-linked headlines for more of the story at PBS.

New WV Food Packaging Plant to Hire 600 Employees

Treplar, a new eco-friendly food packing company, will open a facility in Martinsburg, WV, bringing 600 jobs to the area. Treplar will invest $50 million into the state by opening the facility.

A press release on the announcement notes that “Treplar is currently testing a new generation of food packaging material that is 100% home compostable.”

The facility will be running in the next few months.

Hershey to Close Dot's Pretzel Facility

This is just two years after the acquisition of the pretzel company. Hershey performed additional renovations and updates to the Velva plant when it acquired the company in 2022, but it was reported that there was little more that could be done to bring the facility up to par with the company’s other manufacturing plants in Kansas and Arizona.

Ferrero to Expand Ice Cream Facility

Ferrero’s Wells Enterprises ice cream business plans to expand its Dunkirk, NY manufacturing facility, which would add more than 200 jobs and retain 401 existing jobs.

Construction will begin on the new facility in the last quarter of 2023. It will offer new production lines, cold storage, and administrative office space. Wells will continue to manufacture ice cream products in the existing facility while construction of the new plant is underway.

Tyson to Close 4 Poultry Plants as Demand Slows

Tyson Foods reported August 7 it would shutter four chicken plants — in North Little Rock, AR; Corydon, IN; Dexter, MO; and Noel, MO.

Tyson said that it will shift production to other facilities and halt operations at the four plants in the first two quarters of fiscal 2024.

Hain Celestial Announces New Global Headquarters Location

The better-for-you food brand company is creating a hub in a city that shares its values: Hoboken, NJ. The company will be on the 12th floor of the Waterfront Corporate Center. With Hoboken as the hub, Hain offices and manufacturing locations in the US, Canada, Europe, and other international locations will serve as the "spokes" for team members to come together and collaborate.