LiDestri Foods of Fairport and G's Fresh of the United Kingdom have partnered to form Love Beets USA, a $17 million Rochester-based joint manufacturing venture for the processing and packaging of fresh, marinated and organic beets and beet products.
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G's Fresh, which currently produces Love Beets abroad, will invest in the new partnership and leverage LiDestri's leadership in the food industry to produce its popular product in Rochester and expand distribution throughout the U.S.
The newly formed company will be located at the LiDestri Foods manufacturing complex at Eastman Business Park in Rochester and is slated to begin operations in November 2015.
Love Beets is slated to create 50 new full time positions by year's end, increasing to 140 within five years. Additionally, local growers are expected to benefit with sharply higher demand of organic beet crops and opportunity to move their products into new markets and increase sales. Love Beets has a goal of having the majority of its beets sourced by New York State farmers.
The economic support and assistance from local and state agencies was a critical factor in locating the Love Beets processing plant in Rochester. New York State, through Empire State Development, will provide a $1 million capital grant, up to $1.5 million in Excelsior tax credits and a low interest loan.
Both G's Fresh and LiDestri are similar in size and makeup, as both are multi-generational family owned private enterprises. The $17 million project will establish a new, 100,000 square foot beet processing facility, including installation of machinery and equipment and the construction of a new wastewater sewage line. ■
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