Empire Bakery Commissary, L.L.C., a commercial producer of ready-made cakes, cookies and single-serve desserts, has unveiled plans to invest $10.4 million to expand its Rocky Mount production plant by 32,000 square feet. The expansion is expected to be completed in 2019 and will add 75 jobs to the local economy, the company said.
“With this investment and the support of Governor (Ralph) Northam, Secretary (Brian) Ball and our local partners in Franklin county and the town of Rocky Mount, we will be able to serve more customers and hire more associates,” said Michael Marek, president of Empire Bakery. “We look forward to our continued expansion in the Commonwealth.”
Mr. Northam approved a $225,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Franklin county in getting the project, while the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission approved $140,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. Other states that competed with Virginia for the facility were Utah, Texas, Arizona and Oklahoma.
“Empire Bakery is a valuable employer that has flourished in Virginia for more than 20 years, achieving tremendous growth and the sweet taste of success,” Mr. Northam said. “We are proud to have a partner like Empire Bakery in Franklin county, and I commend the company’s decision to expand and reinvest in Southside Virginia.”
Founded in 1997, Empire Bakery is headquartered in Cincinnati. The company sells its products to a broad range of retailers, including Kroger Co., Food Lion and Wegman’s.
