Jul 2017 Financial News

Grace Foods to open sixth manufacturing plant

Jul 03, 2017

GK Foods & Services Ltd, a subsidiary of GraceKennedy Limited, will be opening its sixth manufacturing plant in Jamaica next year. 

The new facility will produce a range of conveniently portioned and packaged locally grown fruits and vegetables primarily for export markets.

The 60,000 square-foot facility, to be situated in Denbigh, Clarendon contains a specialized agro-processing production line that will be augmented with newly-acquired equipment and fully commissioned by mid-2018, according to a release from GraceKennedy.

A range of locally grown products will be further processed into value-added finished products. 

The release said a total of J$215 million will be spent on the acquisition of agro-processing equipment, installing blast-freezing capability, refurbishing and upgrading the facility and property, implementing a waste-water management system and funding product research and development.

“We have been working toward this acquisition since late 2015 and I am pleased that we can now officially put this well-placed facility to productive use. This plant, our sixth manufacturing plant in Jamaica, will be another channel for farmers to supply goods that are in high demand in North American and UK markets,” said Don Wehby, Group CEO of GraceKennedy.

Wehby said they expect to create employment for up to 70 persons.

Source:
business@gleanerjm.com
Jamaica Gleaner
Monday July 3, 2017

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20170703/grace-foods-open-sixth-manufacturing-plant