Custom Flavors to Stir Economic Growth with $7.75M Investment in Concord, NC

Custom Flavors, a flavor developer and manufacturer renowned in the bakery and beverage industries, has announced the investment of $7.75 million to establish a new production facility in Concord, North Carolina, this plan promises to inject both jobs and new energy into the local economy and in the city's growing food science sector. The upcoming East Coast hub is expected to create 42 jobs with salaries averaging over $58,000, informed the City of Concord in a recent announcement.

Concord's rich legacy in food and beverage production is poised to be enhanced by this venture from the family-owned company initiated just under two decades ago in 2005, the new facility will replace the former S&D Coffee site on West Winds Boulevard, and it includes a large swath of additional space for potential growth. Concord Mayor Bill Dusch expressed excitement about the company's decision to set up shop in the area, "They flavor some of the nation's most beloved products that families enjoy every day and we're proud to be part of that enjoyment," Mayor Dusch told the City of Concord.

Brian Hiatt, Cabarrus EDC Interim Executive Director, highlighted the tangible benefits of the investment, stating, "Custom Flavors will bring good paying jobs and capital investment generating property taxes that will pay for schools, parks and public safety officers for decades to come." With a portfolio spanning over 20,000 unique flavors, Custom Flavors has a history with leading brands on the shelves of top retailers like Walmart and Costco, Custom Flavors is expected to bring that same innovative spirit to their new locale, as per the City of Concord.

The upcoming Concord site will also offer accessible proximity to the NC Food Innovation Lab, encouraging synergy between Custom Flavors and the burgeoning food manufacturing industry that Cabarrus County possesses, "Built upon the foundation of the NC Food Innovation Lab in Kannapolis, we see food manufacturing as a key industry cluster in Cabarrus County and know that Custom Flavors will further bolster this sector," Hiatt remarked to the City of Concord.

Financial enticements will also be in play as the City of Concord evaluates whether to approve property tax grants based on the company's performance after committing to the $7.75 million investment; these discussions are slated to take place on January 9, 2025. The entire effort has been the result of collective coordination with institutions like the North Carolina General Assembly and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College among others, as detailed by the Cabarrus EDC in their collaboration notice.