The Greencore Group plans to open a new manufacturing facility and innovation center on Port of Seattle parcel of land at the Des Moines Creek Business Park, south of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The recent announcement was made about a year after Greencore acquired a Seattle-based producer of sandwiches and salads.
The Dublin, Ireland-headquartered company, which has seven food manufacturing sites in the United States, is the world’s largest maker of sandwiches and a major supplier of frozen and chilled items ranging from entrees and desserts to sushi and salads to retail and foodservice chains in the UK.
Since entering the American market in 2008, Greencore has grown rapidly. The majority of its products are sold through coffee shops, grocery stores and convenience chains under private labels. The US operation, headquartered in Danvers, Massachusetts, serves customers in over 25 states.
“We are looking forward to opening our newest food manufacturing facility in Washington during early 2016. This site will be unique for us because it will also house an Innovation Center where we’ll conduct most of the research and development work for the United States market,” said Richard McGowan, project manager for Greencore.
A rendering of the new 75,000-square-foot food production facility and innovation center that Panattoni Development Co. will build for Greencore at Port of Seattle property south of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Washington State.
The Des Moines operation is expected to maintain 350 jobs that will be relocated from a smaller facility, as well as 50 new jobs to the payroll.
“This growing company is a great addition to our thriving specialty food industry and will further the reputation of King County as a great place for business to set up shop and flourish,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine, who serves on the Economic Development Council (EDC) of Seattle and King County.
“Greencore is exactly the type of tenant the Port of Seattle had in mind for the Des Moines Creek Business Park – a company committed to creating new manufacturing jobs, more employment opportunities, with a focus on responsible resource management and giving back to the Des Moines community,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner and EDC Board Member Tom Albro.
