Starbucks Coffee begins manufacturing facility construction in Augusta, Georgia

Starbucks Coffee has started the construction of a manufacturing facility to produce soluble products in Augusta, Georgia.

Scheduled to be completed in 2014, the $172m new facility will produce Starbucks VIA Ready Brew as well as the coffee base for Frappuccino blended beverages and many of Starbucks ready-to-drink beverages.

The soluble plant will be Starbucks' fifth manufacturing facility in the US, adding to the company's existing network of four roasting plants which currently employ more than 830 employees in Kent, Washington, New York, Pennsylvania, Sandy Run, South Carolina and Carson Valley, Nevada.

Designed to be LEED certified, the 180,000ft² soluble plant will be capable of producing up to 4,000 metric tons per year.

The company also announced to invest $200,000 in community programs to support its commitment to help communities where it does business.

Starbucks global supply chain operations executive vice president Peter Gibbons said that with access to a skilled labor force, advanced technology, and critical transportation and logistics infrastructure, Augusta is a great example of how building high-tech manufacturing facilities in America makes good business sense while supporting the communities where their customers and partners live and work.

The new plant is expected to create 140 American manufacturing jobs, in addition to hundreds of indirect jobs related to construction, shipping and other supply chain functions.

From: processtechnology.drinks-business-review.com