A proposed $25 million expansion project has been approved under the Texas Enterprise Zone Program after being officially nominated by the city earlier this year. As approved, Kraft Heinz Food Company will make a major new capital investment in Garland and they have already begun increasing operations at their main location in the community.
The State’s Enterprise Zone Program was created to promote business investment and job creation in economically-challenged areas of Texas especially designated under this initiative as “enterprise zones.” Kraft’s plant at 2340 Forest Lane, where they currently operate a 266,000 square foot facility on 50+ acres of land, will be able to positively impact several such Enterprise Zones, as well as one Federal Opportunity Zone in Garland.
The planned investment will include significant facility renovations and purchases of additional machinery and equipment to accommodate two new production lines. They also plan to add approximately 250 new full-time jobs to their current workforce of 843 employees. As required by the State, at least 35% of these new jobs must be filled by Enterprise Zone residents, veterans, or economically disadvantaged citizens.
The approved expansion will also significantly grow the City’s target industry of food and beverage production. Kraft Heinz’s Garland operation is the company’s largest manufacturer of Lunchables, Oscar Meyer Naturals, Kraft barbecue sauce and Velveeta Skillets, with plant distribution reaching across the country. Additionally, U.S. Food Service and Daisy Brand join Kraft Heinz in completing the top three food industry employers in Garland, with about 500 and 200 workers respectively.
The impact of the proposed capital investment on the community was a major factor considered by the State during the application review process and Kraft has proven to be an active and significant player in the City’s long-term growth and development. For example, the company has regularly made contributions to summer school lunch programs with Lunchable product donations. Further, they provide technical training to their employees through continuing education classes; this can be vital for those living in areas with limited resources.
“For decades, Kraft Heinz Food Company has been an important and highly valued corporate stakeholder in Garland and we are extremely excited to assist them with this latest expansion of operations in our community,” said David Gwin, Garland’s Director of Economic Development. “We look forward to many more years of a successful partnership between Kraft Heinz and the community.”
Within the past decade, Garland has successfully nominated several projects to the State’s Enterprise Zone program. From 2008 to 2009, approved companies included: MAPEI Corporation, Sherwin-Williams, Epiroc (formerly Atlas Copco) Drilling Solutions LLC, Ecolab, Kraft Foods Global and Sears Logistics. In total, they have created over 1,800 jobs and captured $58 million in capital spending for Garland. With this latest approval, Garland recognizes the very positive impact Kraft Heinz has and will continue to have on the community and looks forward to more growth opportunities and much success.