Consultants Forum Advertise
Subscribe
Close

  • Free for qualified executives and consultants to industry

  • Receive quarterly issues of Area Development Magazine and special market report and directory issues

Subscribe Now
Renew

Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Flowers Foods Plans $25 Million Expansion to Transform Lynchburg, Virginia, Bakery

01/10/2020
Flowers Foods, one of the nation’s largest producers of packaged baked foods, will invest $25 million to expand in Lynchburg, Virginia. The company will transform its bakery into an organic facility, creating 15 new jobs.

The bakery, which Flowers Foods has operated for more than 40 years, will serve the Mid-Atlantic market. Virginia successfully competed with other states for the project.

“This expansion represents a tremendous opportunity for us to meet the increasing demand for our Dave’s Killer Bread organic, Non-GMO Project Verified breads,” said Brad Alexander, Chief Operating Officer of Flowers Foods. “We chose to convert our Lynchburg bakery for a number of reasons, including its geographic location, access to key interstate highways, and the partnership we have with local and state agencies. However, one of the more compelling reasons was the outstanding team of individuals we have at our bakery. We look forward to the successful completion of this project by late summer.”

Founded in 1919, Flowers Foods is a publicly-traded company with sales of $4 billion in 2018. Headquartered in Thomasville, Georgia, the company operates 46 bakeries in 18 states, with more than 9,700 employees. Among the company’s top brands are Nature’s Own, Wonder, Dave’s Killer Bread, and Tastykake.

“Virginia’s strategic access to markets and the City of Lynchburg’s dedicated workforce helped secure this win, and we congratulate Flowers on its next phase of growth,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “As the company continues its upward trajectory in the organic baked foods market, we look forward to building on the long-term corporate partnership between the Commonwealth and Flowers Foods.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Lynchburg and Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Northam approved a $250,000 performance-based grant from the Virginia Investment Partnership program, an incentive available to existing companies, to assist Lynchburg with the project. The company is also eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

“Flowers Foods’ bakery is an institution in Lynchburg,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “Focusing the bakery on the growing market for organic food will help secure its future in Virginia. The food processing industry has blossomed both in Lynchburg and in our Commonwealth, and we are proud to support Flowers Foods as they grow and prosper here.”

“I am so pleased that Flowers has chosen Lynchburg for this expansion,” said City of Lynchburg Mayor Treney Tweedy. “The company is a valued corporate citizen in the City of Lynchburg and we look forward to many more prosperous years of partnership.”

“Supporting the retention and expansion of existing businesses is the number one priority of our economic development efforts in the City of Lynchburg,” said Mark Strosnider, Chair of the Economic Development Authority of the City of Lynchburg. “Lynchburg and its citizens are stronger because companies like Flowers choose to grow here, and we are proud to support their investment in our City.”

Exclusive Research