GRAND RAPIDS — A Greek snack company is establishing its U.S. headquarters in West Michigan in a move that will create 185 new jobs.
Unismack SA announced Thursday it will invest $41.75 million over five years to establish a factory, headquarters and "innovation center" for its subsidiary SnackCraft at the old Kerry Foods facility, located at 4444 52nd St. SE in Kentwood, a suburb of Grand Rapids.
The facility is expected to be operational by late October.
"As we looked into expanding our manufacturing capacity and location for our company in the U.S., the Grand Rapids region seemed like an obvious choice," said Dimitrios Stratakis, Unismack founder and CEO, in a Thursday press release. "There is an abundance of talent and resources here in West Michigan to help us in the next phase of our journey."
SnackCraft's products are already sold in the U.S., but this will be its first North American manufacturing operation. The site will be led by U.S. CEO Joseph Riley.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation contributed a $1 million performance-based grant as an incentive for SnackCraft to choose Michigan over a competing site in Chicago.
"This investment by SnackCraft will create long-term economic opportunity in West Michigan's agribusiness sector and build on our efforts to grow Michigan's economy, create good-paying jobs and invest in every region of our great state," said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in the release.
West Michigan Works and Grand Rapids Community College will support the project with a $614,000 workforce training package.
The Right Place, which connected the manufacturer with the MEDC, will offer SnackCraft in-kind services valued at $5,000.
"We're very happy we were able to assist SnackCraft in finding the perfect environment to grow their operations here in the United States," said Brent Case, vice president of business attraction for The Right Place, in the news release. "With the amount of talent available and the previous successes of other food and beverage companies in the area, Kentwood has created a desirable location for global companies like SnackCraft to thrive."
Other food manufacturers in Kentwood include Roskam Baking Co., Hearthside Food Solutions, The Gluten Free Bar, Sunrise Foods, Nutra Food Ingredients and Superior Foods Co.
Founded in Greece in 2008, Unismack specializes in natural baked snacks free from allergens and artificial ingredients. Its products include crackers and crisps made from lentils, chickpeas, vegetable flours and various seeds.
The SnackCraft facility will co-pack and contract-manufacture crackers, tortilla chips, single- and twin-screw extruded snacks and pellet snacks such as veggie chips and straws. It will also have warehouse space and offer third-party logistics services.
SnackCraft plans to upgrade the facility to current food manufacturing standards and add manufacturing lines, new utilities, employee facilities and machinery.
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