Area Development
Gruppo Concorde plans to build its first United States manufacturing facility where it will produce porcelain tiles. Gruppo Concorde, through its North American subsidiary UST Inc., will invest approximately $80 million to construct a new 600,000 square foot facility on 96 acres, creating 180 new jobs, in Mt. Pleasant, Maury County, Tennessee.

UST Inc. is building this new facility, to be located at 1433 North Main St. in Mt. Pleasant, in order to increase Gruppo Concorde presence on the U.S. market. Through this expansion, Gruppo Concorde will be able to improve its services and products portfolio. UST Inc. expects construction to begin this month and plans to have the facility operational by the second half of 2016.

“We have chosen Tennessee for a number of reasons, including the state’s vibrant and business-friendly environment and the warm and proactive welcome we have received from the local community in Maury County,” Gruppo Concorde Executive and UST Inc. President/CEO Federico Curioni said. “Tennessee is also very close to some of the most important raw material used in the tile industry, such as plastic clay and feldspar, which greatly benefits our production capabilities.”

“Tennessee continues to build upon its reputation as the North American location choice for the international tile manufacturing industry,” Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd said. “Since 2011, five ceramics companies have committed a total of 630 new jobs to our state. Gruppo Concorde, and the jobs they are creating, is a valuable addition to the community, and I look forward to their continued growth and success in Tennessee.”

“We want to thank Gruppo Concorde for its investment in Tennessee and the 180 new jobs they are creating in Maury County,” Governor Bill Haslam said. “Having this global company locate its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Tennessee says something—that we compete with anyone as we continue our work to become the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”

Gruppo Concorde was founded in 1968, and with over 2,200 employees worldwide, the company has expanded to become one of the largest producers of high-end ceramic tile, operating production sites in Italy, France and Russia and exporting its products to more than 130 countries around the globe.

Tennessee Valley Authority and Mount Pleasant Power System congratulate Gruppo Concorde on its decision to start new operations and create quality jobs in Mount Pleasant,” TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development John Bradley said. “We are pleased to partner with the state of Tennessee, the Maury Alliance, South Central Tennessee Development District, City of Mount Pleasant and Maury County officials to facilitate Gruppo Concorde’s finding its optimum location.”