Imperial Sugar Company (Sugar Land, TX), Sugar Growers and Refiners Inc. (Breaux Bridge, LA) and Cargill completed a joint venture leading to the construction of a new sugar refinery in Gramercy, LA. The facility has $145 million in financing to support the $100 million in tax-exempt Gulf Opportunity Zone bonds issued by the Parrish of St. James, LA.


Unilever’s Slim-Fast plant in Covington, TN, will invest $100 million in an expansion project that will create approximately 275 new jobs. It will include construction of 32,000 sq.-ft. of freezer space. The facility will add ice cream and frozen novelties manufacturing to its current production.


Wis-Pak celebrated the grand opening of its Pepsi South production facility in Hattiesburg, MS. The $50 million, 236,000 sq.-ft. production facility will produce 54 flavors including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Sunkist and Aquafina.


Goya Foods broke ground in Pedricktown, NJ for a 204,000 sq.-ft. distribution center. The company will also soon break ground in Miami, FL for a 335,000 sq.-ft. packaging and distribution facility scheduled for completion in 2011. Goya’s long-range plans call for adding 1 million sq.-ft. of distribution space in the next five years.


Supply chain management company OHL worked with Kehe Food Distributors to open a new 300,000 sq.-ft. distribution center in Allentown, PA, creating 210 jobs. The $6.2 million facility will serve food retailers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.