Starbucks Coffee Company joined leaders in Augusta, Georgia Friday to announce the creation of its first company-owned manufacturing facility ever.
The plant worth $172 million is predicted to create 140 jobs in addition to hundreds of indirectly related construction, shipping, and supply chain jobs. About 75 percent of the plant's workers will include skilled processing workers, maintenance and engineering technicians, roasting operators, soluble process operators, and packaging operators. The other 25 percent will be management and administrative staff.
"During such challenging economic times, I am thrilled that we are creating jobs and building something special right here in Georgia," said Peter Gibbons, executive vice president of Starbucks Global Supply Chain Operations.
The company also announced plans to invest $200,000 in community programs to aid Augusta's efforts to better the lives of its residents.
Within the coming months, Starbucks will work with leaders alongside civic organizations to support local programs.
"Starbucks has long believed that there is a direct link between our success and the vitality of the communities in which we do business. With access to a skilled labor force, advanced technology, and critical transportation and logistics infrastructure, Augusta is a great example of how building high-tech manufacturing facilities in America makes good business sense while supporting the communities where our customers and partners live and work," said Gibbons.
The project is expected to be completed at the start of 2014, where products currently made overseas will instead be produced in the United States. The facility will be Starbucks' fifth manufacturing location in the U.S., in addition to the company's current four roasting plants which have over 830 employees from different parts of the country.
