Unilever to expand spreads manufacturing facility in Kansas

British-Dutch multinational company Unilever is set to expand its margarine and spreads manufacturing facility in Johnson County, Kansas, US, with an investment of $152.5m, a move which will create 100 new jobs.

The expansion project, which was announced by the Kansas Department of Commerce, will expand the size of the facility by about 50% and also involves the addition of new machinery and equipment.

About $45m of the investment will be spent on construction and infrastructure, while the rest will be used for new manufacturing equipment.

The New Century facility employs a ‘total system approach’ which optimises the economic, environmental and social benefits of the location to enable sustainable production of the company’s North America spread brands.

Located in the New Century AirCenter industrial park, the plant manufactures spread brands such as the Country Crock, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!, Promise, Imperial and Brummel & Brown, and currently employs about 170 people.

The expansion project is part of Unilever’s strategy to strengthen its presence in the US.

Unilever North America president Kees Kruythoff said: "By creating a world-class manufacturing facility we are further investing in our core food brands, and we’re excited about the growth this will enable."

Southwest Johnson County Economic Development president Tom Riederer said: "Unilever’s expanded presence will be a significant addition to the growing business community of southwest Johnson County."

Headquartered in the UK and the Netherlands, Unilever is a leading consumer goods company engaged in the manufacture of food, home and personal care products. It has a presence in more than 190 countries.

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Image: The expansion will expand the New Century spreads manufacturing facility by about 50%. Photo courtesy of Unilever.