Canada-based Fancy Pokket Corporation, a manufacturer of bakery products, announced at a groundbreaking ceremony that it plans to establish a new gluten-free production facility in Lancaster County. The $13 million investment is expected to generate 68 new jobs over the next five years.
“We are pleased to be locating our new facility in Lancaster County. This is an exciting new venture for our company and South Carolina provided the right business environment for our expansion. We look forward to getting up and running, and we appreciate all the support we’ve received from state and local officials,” said Mike Timani, president of Fancy Pokket Corporation.
Fancy Pokket Corporation intends to build a new 57,000-square-foot baking plant in Lancaster County in the Air-Rail Business Park, located at 269 Nebo Road. The company will manufacture its range of gluten-free products, including conventional bread, hot dog, hamburger buns, bagels, pizza crust, flatbread and deserts. The new facility is expected to be in operation by early 2014, and will provide these products to customers nationally and internationally.
“Today’s announcement is another win for one of our state’s rural areas. We celebrate Fancy Pokket Corporation’s decision to locate its new facility in Lancaster County with a $13 million investment and the creation of 68 new jobs. By strengthening South Carolina’s business-friendly climate, we can continue to bring in job-creating investments from companies from around the globe,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.
Since January 2011, South Carolina has recruited more than $530 million in capital investment and more than 2,200 jobs in the agribusiness sector.
“South Carolina has a long history in the food production and agribusiness sectors. With Fancy Pokket’s announcement, we can say that South Carolina is not only just right for making things well, but for baking them, as well,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.
“We’re very proud to have Fancy Pokket join our family of companies in Lancaster County. This is an outstanding company with great growth potential and we are very happy to have them as the first tenants in our new Lancaster Air-Rail Business Park,” said Lancaster County Economic Development Corporation Chairman Larry McCullough.
Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers added, “Another agribusiness announcement for South Carolina is good not only for rural areas, but for the entire state as well. Brining more value added facilities like this to South Carolina is vital to the continued growth of the state’s leading industry.”
About S.C. Department of Commerce
As South Carolina’s leading economic development agency, the Department of Commerce works to recruit new businesses and help existing businesses grow. Commerce has recruited world-class companies to South Carolina such as Boeing, Bridgestone, Continental, Monster.com, Heinz, ZF Group, BMW and Google Inc. and also supports small and existing business, rural development initiatives and community development. Commerce partners with the S.C. Technical College System via readySC to support workforce training and recruiting, and with the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, which provides worker training and employment opportunities within the state. South Carolina has been ranked first in attracting jobs through foreign investment by IBM-Plant Location International. The state won the Gold Shovel Award and the Project of Year Award from Area Development magazine in 2012. For more information, visit www.SCcommerce.com.