Area Development
The J.M. Smucker Co. will establish an R&D facility focused on testing new product innovation in Orrville, Ohio. The project is expected to create 35 jobs.

The 29,000-square-foot lab will be located on the company's current campus and support the Smucker's Uncrustables brand.

"We are excited to support the momentum of our Uncrustables® brand and our continued work to meet the unprecedented demand for the product through this new R&D facility, which we anticipate going live in the fall of 2023," said Tina Floyd, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Consumer Foods, The J.M. Smucker Co. "The support of local leadership has been greatly appreciated as we have worked to coordinate plans on this new facility supporting not only one of the fastest growing brands in our portfolio but one of the fastest growing brands in the category."

The company will receive up to $1 million from the JobsOhio's Research and Development Center Grant and up to $1.5 million from the Ohio Department of Development's Research and Development Investment Loan Program.

"Ohio is a global innovation leader due in part to companies like The J.M. Smucker Co., a staple of American ingenuity that has called Ohio home for 125 years," noted J.P. Nauseef, president and CEO of JobsOhio. "The new, cutting-edge R&D facility in Orrville will advance product development for Smucker while providing positive economic impact to the state."

The R&D Center Grant provides assistance that focuses on creating an R&D center for identifying new growth opportunities. The R&D Investment Loan offers low-interest loans to companies creating research and development capabilities and high-wage jobs across the state.

"We are grateful for The J.M. Smucker Company's commitment to Wayne County," added Team NEO Chief Executive Bill Koehler. "The addition of this innovative R&D facility demonstrates the advantage of the food industry in Northeast Ohio, a top 10 U.S. food processing location, with robust resources across the region, including a talent pool of 23,000 strong."

The J.M. Smucker Co. owns and operates manufacturing facilities and offices across North America supporting the delivery of its leading brands in the consumer snacking, coffee and pet food and pet snacks categories.