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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Materne North America Plans New $85 Million Manufacturing Facility in Nampa, Idaho

02/24/2014
Materne North America, the makers of GoGo squeeZ Applesauce, will invest $85 million in a new food processing facility in Nampa, Idaho, which will create a minimum of 230 jobs in the Treasure Valley region.

The new state-of-the-art facility, the company’s second U.S. location, will be housed at a site formerly owned by Micron Technology, Inc. that has been vacant since 2007. In Nampa, Materne/GoGo squeeZ found the right mix of access to quality fruits, a skilled workforce, facility and property specifications, and true partnership with the area community, local economic development officials said.

This month a full engineering and design review will commence; the facility will then be retrofitted as a FDA-level food production facility. Demolition of old buildings on site and construction of a modern state-of-the-art manufacturing center will begin soon afterwards and is expected to continue into the third quarter. Trial runs on the first two production lines are expected to be held by year’s end. When at full capacity the Nampa plant is expected to produce 60 percent of GoGo squeeZ’s base line U.S. products.

"Materne is committed to helping on-the-go families make healthy choices,” said Michel Larroche, CEO Materne/GoGo squeeZ. “As we grow the GoGo squeeZ brand in North America, I am delighted that we have found a home in Nampa, Idaho, where our vision can continue to be realized and we can expand our wholesome snack offerings throughout the U.S."

GoGo squeeZ is a squeezable, re-sealable, 100 percent fruit in a pouch snack. GoGo squeeZ’s products contain only natural ingredients; the company sources over 90 percent of its fruits from farmers and orchards in the United States that minimize the use of chemicals and genetically modified ingredients. Originally founded in France where it is known as Pom'Potes, GoGo squeeZ launched in the U.S. in June 2008 and opened its facility in Traverse City, Michigan, in 2011. The company’s products are sold in over 50,000 locations nationwide.

“On behalf of the State of Idaho, I’m proud to welcome Materne North America to the Treasure Valley,” Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter said. “Idaho is becoming a national leader in food processing, and we are thrilled to welcome a new employer with such a stellar reputation to our state. I’m proud and grateful to the people and leaders of the City of Nampa and Canyon County, to local economic development officials, Lt. Governor Brad Little, and to Director Jeff Sayer and his team at the Idaho Department of Commerce who helped make this great news possible.”

"This is great news for the city of Nampa and the Treasure Valley,” Nampa Mayor Bob Henry said. “And it’s an excellent example of local and state governments working together to boost Idaho’s economy. I’m very proud of Economic Development Director Beth Ineck who played the key role in Nampa to make this happen. On a personal note, my grandchildren love GoGo squeeZ. We have it in the pantry all the time.”

The Canyon County Board of County Commissioners added, “Today’s announcement is wonderful news for Canyon County. Materne North America is a strong company with a growing reputation and we couldn’t be happier with their decision to invest in a new state-of-the-art facility that will bring hundreds of good jobs to the area. And when you couple it with Canyon County’s already strong agricultural economy, it’s a win-win for everyone involved.”

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