ACE Bakery Invests Over USD31m to Expand Operations

An artisan bakery in Cherokee County, South Carolina, will invest USD31.9m to expand its operations. ACE Bakery, which produces and distributes baked goods to a variety of retail outlets and restaurants, will add 80,000 square feet to its facilities, creating an estimated 40 new jobs in the process, the S.C. Department of Commerce has announced.

The company also plans to add a new production line and double the size of its freezer.

The bakery produces par-baked breads (breads that are partially baked and then frozen). It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of George Weston Limited. Hiring for the new positions should begin in mid-2018.

“While South Carolina’s economy has diversified across a wide variety of industries, agribusiness continues to be one of our most successful sectors,” S.C. Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt said in a statement. “This new USD31.9m investment is further evidence that our state’s business environment is ‘just right’ for existing industry.”

ACE Bakery first announced its Cherokee County operations in the summer of 2012.

“We at ACE Bakery are very excited with the opportunity Cherokee County has provided us to expand our business. The region’s growth, as well as the workforce and infrastructure, were key factors in expanding our bakery. We appreciate the support from the State of South Carolina and Cherokee County, and look forward to continuing this great partnership,” said ACE Bakery President Roy Benin, according to the local press.