Cheerwine is putting serious money behind its hometown roots, paying $7 million for a Salisbury industrial plant and signaling that its Rowan County workforce will double as a result. The iconic soft drink brand plans to ramp up bottling and distribution at the site to keep pace with growing demand across the Southeast, turning the property into a major production campus in its own backyard.
According to The Business Journals, Charlotte Business Journal reporter Cooper Metts noted that Cheerwine paid $7 million for the facility and expects a significant boost in local hiring. That coverage frames the move as part of a broader regional expansion and job growth push for the company.
What Cheerwine Bought
A brokered sale notice from Trinity Partners identifies the buyer as Piedmont Cheerwine Bottling Co. and describes the property as an industrial facility of roughly 176,580 square feet at 1302 N. Salisbury Avenue. The May 5 announcement highlights that the building is set up for bottling, warehousing, and distribution, giving Cheerwine room to consolidate production and move product faster across its existing distribution footprint.
Cheerwine’s Roots in Salisbury
Cheerwine was invented in Salisbury in 1917 and has stayed rooted there as a locally based brand for more than a century, according to Our State. The company operates under the Piedmont/Carolina Beverage bottling name and lists its corporate address in Salisbury on its website. Its annual Cheerwine Festival underscores the brand’s civic presence and visibility around town.
Why This Matters for Jobs
Local economic development leaders have been pitching Rowan County as a rising hub for food and beverage manufacturing, and the Cheerwine deal fits neatly into that storyline, the county’s economic development commission says. The Rowan EDC points to workforce training programs, water and logistics advantages, and nearby research resources as key reasons that food and beverage companies keep choosing the area. Having a large, ready industrial site in play helps shorten the gap between landing a deal and onboarding new hires once production is moved into the facility.
The sale itself was handled by Trinity Partners, and market watchers say the size and location of the plant make it likely that Cheerwine will add workers in phases over the coming months. The brokerage’s announcement did not provide a public hiring timeline, and the company has not released a detailed schedule. Local officials, however, say they expect hiring to follow as Cheerwine outfits and tailors the space for its expanded operations.
