Portion-pack food firm plans $3.1m expansion
L&L Foods is investing $3.1m to construct a facility in Wilmington, Ohio. Once completed, the facility will add about 100 jobs to the local economy.
Growth in portion packs
Roger A. Douglas, chief financial officer with the company, told FoodProductionDaily single-serve food packages are growing in popularity with consumers and foodservice clients alike.
“The small portion size is perfect for single-serve convenience for consumers,” he said. “For foodservice applications, longer shelf-life and portion control are the main benefits.”
Douglas said the company selected the Ohio site based on available labor talent, logistics consideration for suppliers and customers, building availability, and building suitability. The 60,000-square-foot facility will include vertical and horizontal high-speed packaging equipment, accompanied by warehouse and office space.
Doubling capacity
The Ohio facility, with an anticipated production start date sometime in May, joins the flagship L&L Foods production facilities in Anaheim, California (also approximately 60,000 square feet).
Douglas told FPD the company is securing financial incentive packages with local and state tax and development bodies, he said.
L&L Foods is a niche packaging operation that focuses on portion-control food applications for retail food product companies as well as foodservice clients. The company’s product portfolio is composed of dried fruit, nuts, seeds, croutons and toppings, and salad dressing.