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Columbus, Ohio – Cérélia, a European leader in the production of ready-made doughs and baked goods, announced plans to expand its operations in the Columbus Region with a new production facility in Whitehall, Ohio. The company is investing over $29 million and will begin with 120 employees. First production at the new site will start in Q1 2021.
Cérélia will build a new 150,000-square-foot production facility in Whitehall to meet existing and future customer demand, with a groundbreaking scheduled for late June. The company’s investment will be used for the facility’s construction, machinery and equipment upgrades, additional production lines and employee training. Cérélia selected the Columbus Region after considering other markets in North America.
“The Columbus Region is an optimal location to strategically invest capital and successfully deliver on long-term revenue objectives,” said Cérélia’s Chief Operations Officer, Claude Le Bourg. “This new facility will allow us to expand our resources and ultimately increase our market share in the U.S. and Canada.”
Based in France, Cérélia entered the U.S. and Canadian market in 2017 through the acquisition of English Bay Batter with operations in Vancouver, Toronto and Columbus. Cérélia employs more than 1,600 workers in production facilities around the world, including France, Italy, Belgium, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Canada and the U.S.
“We are thrilled that Cérélia selected Whitehall for its strategic expansion in the U.S.,” said City of Whitehall Mayor Kim Maggard. “The company’s decision is a testament to the economic opportunity in our region for prospective businesses and talent alike.” The Columbus Region is home to more than 200 food and beverage operations that generate $2.8 billion in annual economic output, and Ohio ranks nationally as a top-five producer of bakery, dairy, snacks, spices and more. Whitehall is in Franklin County, which is home to an estimated 19,214 residents and some of the Columbus Region’s largest employers. “Cérélia’s expansion will create 40 new food production jobs ranging from manufacturing and R&D to distribution, speaking to the diversity of talent in the Columbus Region,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “The company’s investment in a new advanced facility, the skilled talent that will contribute to its continued domestic growth, and the resiliency of Ohio’s businesses will all be important contributing factors to our economic rebound.”
“The investment by Cérélia is another example of how the state’s economy will rebound thanks to the resiliency of Ohio’s businesses and the skill of its workers,” added Nauseef.
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About Cérélia
Formed in 2012 by merging Alsacienne de Pâtes Ménagères (“APM”, founded in 1994) and Eurodough (former Sara Lee International Bakery division, created in 1974), Cérélia is a leading transatlantic provider of innovative bakery solutions. Thanks to sustained organic growth over many years, driven by a relentless focus on product quality, service levels, and new product innovation (such as the introduction of organic, gluten-free and wholesome products) and (ii) an ambitious, yet thoughtful M&A strategy, Cérélia has become the leader in the European market. In 2015, the Company broadened its strategy through the acquisition of de Bioderij, which extended its product portfolio into pancakes and crepes and launched the Company into the North American and Asian markets. Through the acquisition of Bakeaway in 2016 and English Bay Batter in 2017, Cérélia expanded its presence in the United Kingdom and North America while further diversifying its product portfolio. The Company has meaningful market shares in the private label segment, manufacturing for some of the largest brands in the world alongside its own family of brands, which regularly introduce innovative new products. Learn more at cerelia.com.
About the City of Whitehall, Ohio
The City of Whitehall is home to nearly 19,000 residents and is located in eastern Franklin County just minutes from the John Glenn Columbus International Airport, I-270, I-670 and downtown Columbus. Whitehall is committed to being an innovative, diverse and vibrant community of thriving neighborhoods that are home to exceptional recreational opportunities and flourishing businesses. For more information, please contact the City of Whitehall by visiting http://www.whitehall-oh.us/ or calling 614-338-3103.
About JobsOhio
JobsOhio is a private nonprofit economic development corporation designed to drive job creation and new capital investment in Ohio through business attraction, retention and expansion. The organization also works to seed talent production in its targeted industries and to attract talent to Ohio though Find Your Ohio. JobsOhio works with six regional partners across Ohio: Dayton Development Coalition, Ohio Southeast, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership and Team NEO. Learn more at www.jobsohio.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
About One Columbus
As the economic development organization for the 11-county Columbus Region, One Columbus’ mission is to lead a comprehensive regional growth strategy that develops and attracts the world’s most competitive companies, grows a highly adaptive workforce, prepares our communities for the future, and inspires corporate, academic and public innovation throughout the Columbus Region. One Columbus expertly guides companies through the location decision process. Through strategic business outreach and customized research, the One Columbus team leverages public, private and institutional partnerships to grow the Columbus Region’s economy and strengthen its national and international competitiveness. Funding is received from more than 300 private organizations, local governments, academic institutions and JobsOhio. Learn more at ColumbusRegion.com.
One Columbus Media Contact
Amy Harman
614-225-6070
ah@columbusregion.com