BATON ROUGE, Louisiana – Governor Bobby Jindal and Tom Martin, executive vice president and COO of Pod Pack International, announced a $10.1 million, 75,000-square-foot expansion at the company’s manufacturing facility in Baton Rouge.
The company will also install new equipment to expand its production of compostable coffee and tea pods. In addition to retaining 19 employees at the facility, the company will create 19 new jobs with an average salary of $30,100, plus benefits.
The Louisiana Department of Economic Development (LED) estimates the project will result in 67 new indirect jobs for a total of more than 85 new jobs in the Capital region.
Gov. Jindal said, “Louisiana is filled with great innovators like the leadership at Pod Pack International, and we have worked hard to ensure they have the resources to thrive, including a strong business climate, a skilled workforce and a world-class infrastructure.
Pod Pack International’s expansion in Baton Rouge is proof-positive that Louisiana is succeeding not only in attracting news businesses, but also in creating an environment where native companies are reinvesting in our state.”
Pod Pack is a manufacturer of coffee and tea products for roasters and distributors in North America and Central America.
The company’s signature products – compostable coffee and tea pods – are manufactured at the company’s Baton Rouge facility located on Industrialplex Boulevard in Baton Rouge. In 2013, the company produced approximately 100 million pods.
The facility expansion and installation of new equipment will allow the company to further expand its output to meet the needs of recently secured client contracts.
“We considered other alternative locations, but we are truly happy we chose Louisiana,” said Martin. “We are so grateful for what we have accomplished through our employees, our customers and the local support.
When we announced our growth plans, it was unbelievable how much encouragement we have received from the local Baton Rouge area, including the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, the Mayor’s Office and Louisiana Economic Development. Baton Rouge and Louisiana are a great place for doing business and for manufacturers to thrive.”
Founded in New Orleans in 1996 by Tom Martin and Bill Powell, the company relocated to Baton Rouge in 2000. The market for single-cup coffees and teas has seen tremendous growth in the past several years, and Pod Pack’s unit sales have more than quadrupled since 2010.
“Pod Pak provides an innovative and relevant product to consumers throughout the U.S. We are proud that they call Baton Rouge home and are excited to see their business grow,” Mayor-President Melvin “Kip” Holden said. “Pod Pak is a prime example of how the business-friendly environment in the Capital Region makes it ideal for growth: You just have to be ready.”
LED’s Business Expansion and Retention Group began working with Pod Pack International in February 2014 following a joint meeting held with Baton Rouge Area Chamber.
To secure the expansion project, LED offered a competitive incentive package, including a performance-based $760,000 award from the Economic Development Loan Program. The company is also expected to utilize the state’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs.
“BRAC congratulates Pod Pak on their upcoming expansion,” said Baton Rouge Area Chamber President and CEO Adam Knapp.
“Through our business retention and expansion efforts, we were able to help the company see that business growth was possible and work with them on the incentives and processes to make this happen. Small businesses in the region are the backbone of our economy, playing an integral role just as the larger companies do, and we are pleased to see Pod Pak taking their business to the next level.”
Source: Louisiana Department of Economic Development
