AUGUSTA, GA. — Starbucks Coffee Co. (NASDAQ: SBUX) has broken ground on a $172 million, 180,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Augusta. The plant, which will be the first company-owned facility in the world to produce soluble products, will create 140 jobs when it opens in 2014.
“Georgia is proud to welcome Starbucks to the growing community of global brands that make a home in our state,” says Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal. “We understand that a company like Starbucks has its pick of places to do business, so we are indeed glad the strength of Georgia’s workforce and business environment attracted this manufacturing operation.”
The facility will produce several Starbucks products that are currently manufactured abroad, including Starbucks VIA Ready Brew and the coffee base used in Frappuccino blended beverages as well as many ready-to-drink beverages. The plant is designed to be LEED certified.
“During such challenging economic times, I am thrilled that we are creating jobs and building something special right here in Georgia,” says Peter Gibbons, executive vice president of Seattle-based Starbucks’ global supply chain operations. “Starbucks has long believed that there is a direct link between our success and the vitality of the communities in which we do business.”
Starbucks has also committed to investing $200,000 in community programs in the area. During the next several months, the company will work with elected leaders and civic organizations to identify, develop and support local programs focused on building long-term infrastructure to instill a deeper sense of community engagement in Augusta.
“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,” Gibbons says.
Starbucks’ stock price closed Friday at $53.61 per share, up from $39.03 per share a year earlier.
— Savannah Duncan