Today, Greencore Group plc, a leading international convenience foods company, marked the opening of a new greenfield sandwich facility in Rhode Island to support the rapid international growth of its business. The 107,000 s/f building will become the eighth food manufacturing facility for Greencore in the US. Minister for Agriculture and Food, Simon Coveney TD along with Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo attended the official opening.
"This is the first new factory build for Greencore in almost 25 years, and we are committed to developing one of the best sandwich manufacturing plants in the world here in Rhode Island," said Liam McClennon, CEO of Greencore USA. "This is an important investment as part of our ongoing expansion of the business to avail of opportunities in key markets. We are investing over $40 million to develop a state of the art complex. It will employ upwards of 400 staff and marks a key milestone in our strategy to grow Greencore's business in the U.S."
Greencore's Quonset facility will be the company's northeast hub, producing approximately six million units per week and supplying more than twenty states. The facility, with potential to expand to 150,000 s/f, is scheduled to open this spring. The facility uses the latest technology and will introduce approximately 400 new jobs to Rhode Islanders, from entry-level food production and delivery to quality control and management.
"Rhode Island welcomes Greencore to the dynamic and robust business community at Quonset Business Park," said governor Raimondo. "The opening of this facility will bring the kinds of good, middle-class jobs that form the backbone of Rhode Island families, and we're proud to have supported the company's transition to our great state."
During the first public address from the Quonset facility, Greencore USA CEO Liam McClennon and chairman of the board Gary Kennedy laid out their plans and expectations for the facility, and governor Raimondo joined them in discussing Greencore and Rhode Island's commitment to economic development. Simon Coveney explored the vision of "smart, green, growth" which has seen Irish food companies emerge as global leaders in safe, sustainable food production.
"This announcement represents the strategy of smart, green growth, which has seen Irish companies emerge as global leaders in safe, sustainable food production," said minister Coveney.
"Greencore's Quonset facility will be the company's Northeast hub, serving approximately 56 million people in eight states and will supply the convenience and small store channels," said Gary Kennedy, Greencore chairman.