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Gruppo Campari Invests $44 million on Expansion Of Its Wild Turkey Packaging Facility

02/27/2012
Gruppo Campari will invest approximately $44 million to build a new packaging facility at its Wild Turkey Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, and hire up to 62 additional employees.

The facility expansion, expected to be completed next year, will give Gruppo Campari full control over the Wild Turkey brand's entire production from distilling and aging to bottling, all in Kentucky, said Governor Steve Beshear. In addition, Gruppo Campari's SKYY Vodka will also be bottled at the facility.

Demand for Wild Turkey is at its highest level in history, selling one million 9-liter cases worldwide, company official said. The high demand led Wild Turkey to invest $50 million on distillery expansion last year, doubling its annual capacity.

"We are very proud to be working so closely with the Commonwealth on the new Wild Turkey packaging facility in Lawrenceburg," said Gruppo Campari CEO Bob Kunze-Concewitz. "The incentives and tax benefits the Commonwealth is affording us on this project clearly demonstrate the passion we both have for not only producing an outstanding Kentucky-born product, but providing quality jobs and other economic benefits to the community."

To encourage the investment and job growth in Lawrenceburg, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority approved the company for tax incentives up to $2 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the term of the agreement through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.

KEDFA also approved Wild Turkey for tax benefits up to $350,000 through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act, which allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development and electronic processing equipment.

"Wild Turkey has been a strong economical partner for our community since 1869, and we are very excited that they have chosen to bring the packaging operation home to Lawrenceburg," said Mayor Edwinna Baker. "In these difficult financial times, communities rarely find reason for great celebration. Through their commitment to invest up to $44 million on this expansion project and the creation of 60-plus new jobs, Wild Turkey has once again provided our community an opportunity to share in the celebration of their accomplishments and future growth.

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