Growth from new customers and an expanded product line is fueling Empire Specialty Cheese Co. LLC’s plans to move into a vacant plant in Ashville, New York.
Armed with incentives from Empire State Development Corp. and the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency, Empire Specialty Cheese has acquired the former AFA Food Inc. meat processing plant and will shift its operations there. The $6.37 million project will see the company add 204 jobs to its employee payroll in the coming years. The company currently has 46 full-time workers.
Empire Specialty Cheese, founded in 2000, produces ricotta and mozzarella cheese under private label contracts. By moving into the plant, the company will be able to add shredded cheese and cubed cheese lines.
“Empire Specialty Cheese Co. first found success as a small manufacturer of cheese and is now expanding its product line to multiple private labels,” said Kenneth Adams, ESD president, CEO and commissioner. “Its success is bringing job opportunities to hundreds of new employees and ‘new jobs’ are two words that we love to hear.”
The company had been searching for an adequate location to expand operations in southwestern New York as its current location in Conoewango Valley was no longer viable for the growing business.
“We are especially happy to have them because they are returning a landmark building in the food industry back into a vital manufacturing facility,” said Greg Edwards, Chautauqua County executive.
AFA closed its plant just over a year ago, eliminating 100 jobs.
Source: American City Business Journals