Fort Wayne, Ind. (April 2, 2009) — Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc. announced today that it is in the final stages of completing the second phase of its expansion at the Edy’s manufacturing facility located on Wells Street in Fort Wayne. The company is investing $21.5 million in the second phase expansion project.
The Edy’s Fort Wayne Operations Center has add a new production line to produce frozen snacks with cones like
Nestlé® Drumstick® cones and
The Skinny Cow® cones. The plant recently completed the hiring of 49 additional employees to staff the new line.
“We are pleased and proud to be adding additional manufacturing capacity to our facility,” said Sheila Brojek, assistant plant manager for Edy’s Fort Wayne Operations Center. “We’ve been able to grow to 453 people here at our plant and we have some of the best employees in the state.”
The project is an extension to one the Edy’s plant began in 2007. “Dreyer’s and Edy’s have shown a tremendous loyalty to Fort Wayne by its continued reinvestment in the City,” said Fort Wayne Mayor, Tom Henry. “The sustained increase in operations is a sign of success for the company and a testament of the strength and hard work in our community.”
The City of Fort Wayne has committed a total performance-based grant of $84,000 to Dreyer’s. The company was approved for a 10-year tax abatement of $1,296,605 on real and personal property by the Fort Wayne Common Council. Dreyer’s could also receive an additional $240,180 from WorkOne Northeast for job-specific and computer training services, and recruitment and assessment services. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has offered Dreyer’s $600,000 in Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credits and $125,000 in Hoosier Business Investment (HBI) tax credits.
“The expansion of the Edy’s facility is excellent news for the community of Fort Wayne,” said Kristine Foate, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce. “This project will present many opportunities and will open the door for increased business development.”
The Fort Wayne Operations Center is one of five manufacturing facilities Dreyer’s operates in the US. Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc. is part of Nestlé USA, which is owned by Nestlé S.A. of Vevey, Switzerland — the world’s largest nutrition, health and wellness company. Nestlé has continued to increase its presence and employment in Indiana with the Edy’s expansion in Fort Wayne and the creation and recently announced Nestlé beverage production and distribution facility expansion in Anderson, Indiana.
About Dreyer’s
Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Holdings, Inc., and its subsidiaries manufacture and distribute a full spectrum of ice cream and frozen dessert products. Brands of frozen dessert products currently manufactured or distributed by Dreyer’s in the United States include Grand,
Slow Churned®, Dibs®, Häagen-Dazs®, Nestlé® Drumstick®, Nestlé Crunch®, Nestlé® Butterfinger®, Nestlé® Toll House®, Nestlé® Push-Up®, Frosty Paws®,
Eskimo Pie®, Loaded, MAXX, Fruit Bars and
The Skinny Cow®. The company’s premium products are marketed under the
Dreyer’s brand name throughout the Western states and Texas, and under the
Edy’s® brand name throughout the remainder of the United States. Internationally, the
Dreyer’s brand extends to select markets in the Far East and the
Edy’s brand extends to the Caribbean and South America. For more information on the company, please visit
http://www.dreyersinc.com/.
In the U.S. the Häagen-Dazs trademark is sub-licensed to Dreyer’s by Nestlé.
About Nestlé
Named one of “America’s Most Admired Food Companies” in
Fortune magazine for the twelfth consecutive year, Nestlé USA provides quality brands and products that bring flavor to life every day. From nutritious meals with Lean Cuisine
® to baking traditions with Nestlé
® Toll House
®, Nestlé USA makes delicious, convenient, and nutritious food and beverage products that enrich the very experience of life itself. That’s what “Nestlé. Good Food, Good Life” is all about. Well-known Nestlé brands include: Nestlé
® Toll House
®, Nestlé
® Nesquik
®, Nestlé
® Coffee-mate
®, Stouffer’s
®,
Lean Cuisine
®, HOT POCKETS
® and LEAN POCKETS
® brand sandwiches, Nescafé
®, Nescafé
® Taster’s Choice
®, NESTLÉ
® Juicy Juice
®, Buitoni
®, DREYER’S/EDY’S
®, Nestlé Crunch
®, Nestlé
® Butterfinger
®, and Wonka
®. Nestlé USA, with 2008 sales of $8.8 billion is part of Nestlé S.A. in Vevey, Switzerland — the world’s largest food company — with 2008 sales of $101 billion. For product news and information, visit
Nestleusa.com or
NestleNewsroom.com.