Snack maker adding 37 jobs, $30M investment south of Grand Rapids
Summary
KENTWOOD, MI The Michigan Strategic Fund has provided a $400,000 grant to a Kentwood-based snack maker that plans to add up to 37 new jobs and invest up to $30 million to expand its manufacturing, warehousing and distribution building to meet rapidly increasing demand.SnackCraft, a subsidiary of Greece-based Unismack, is making a 186,000-square-foot expansion of its building at 4444 52nd St. SE.Additional storage space and 16 loading docks included in the expansion are expected to reduce third-party warehousing and logistics costs, according to a memo from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). It opened its Kentwood facility, which serves as its U.S. headquarters, in 2022.RELATED: Greek snack company opens U.S. headquarters in Kentwood, plans up to 185 jobsThe expansion demonstrates our commitment to the area and enables the future growth potential for both existing and new customer opportunities, as well as securing SnackCrafts long-term food manufacturing platform, Joseph Riley, CEO of SnackCraft, said in a statement.The MEDC says the up to 37 new jobs the project could create would be expected to pay $35.50 per hour plus benefits, according to a memo. The company is experiencing growing demand from customers on the East Coast, and Sullivan County in New York was considered as a site for the expansion, the MEDC said.A timeline for the expansion was not included in materials from the MEDC or The Right Place, a regional economic development group based in Grand Rapids that assisted with the project. However, Brent Case, vice president of business attraction at The Right Place, said through a spokesperson that construction has already been completed.In addition to the state grant, SnackCraft has also received a 50% property tax cut from the city of Kentwood to help offset the cost of the expansion, according to a new release from The Right Place.I connected with SnackCraft in early 2022 when they were in the process of establishing their first North American operations here in Kentwood, Case said. Im excited to see whats in store for them moving forward.Prior to now, SnackCraft received a $1 million grant from the MSF for the establishment of its headquarters in Kentwood in 2022.