Cereal Ingredients Inc. has announced that it will expand its manufacturing operations in Leavenworth. The company plans to add at least 32 new jobs and invest $12 million in a major expansion of its facilities at the Gary Carlson Business Park.
The Leavenworth County Development Corporation (LCDC), the Leavenworth County Port Authority (LCPA), the city of Leavenworth and the Kansas Department of Commerce worked with Cereal Ingredients in 2004 to locate its manufacturing facility in Leavenworth. The company has since grown to 104 jobs and is operating two 40,000 square foot buildings in the park. Current payroll at the Leavenworth facilities is more than $6 million per year.
“We are extremely pleased with the cooperation and partnership of the Port Authority, LCDC and the city since we moved here,” said Bob Hatch, chairman and CEO of Cereal Ingredients. “It is a very nurturing environment as evidenced by our continued growth and commitment to the community.”
The new expansion will add 81,000 square feet of warehousing, maintenance and production space to the company’s complex in the park.
“It’s great to see Cereal Ingredients achieve success and expand its presence in Leavenworth,” Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George said. “Food processing is a rapidly growing industry in our state, and Cereal Ingredients’ investment and expansion will contribute to the sector’s continued development.”
Cereal Ingredients is a privately held, employee-owned specialty ingredients manufacturer dedicated to the development, production and support of unique cereal-related products. The company produces food particulates that add flavor, texture and color to baked goods and ready-to-eat cereals, as well as pre-blended mixes to create added flavor and swirl effects in bread products.
Cereal Ingredients holds multiple worldwide product and process patents, exporting its products to 19 countries. The company was named the Kansas Exporter of the Year in 2009.