Keurig to open new pod manufacturing facility in Georgia, US

Keurig Green Mountain is set to open a new pod manufacturing facility in Douglas County, Georgia, which will create around 550 new jobs, according to an announcement by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal.

The company has completed the purchase of a 585,000ft² building for renovation in the county and will invest $337m into the facility over the next five years.

The new manufacturing centre will support the production of pods for the firm’s new Keurig Cold platfom; an in-home cold beverage system that will allow consumers to quickly produce their favourite cold beverage brands.

The Douglas facility will support the firm’s new Early Production Center in Williston of Vermont, which will serve as a hub for Keurig Cold start-up and early production work.

In February, Keurig and Coca-Cola established a strategic partnership to develop and introduce Coca-Cola’s global brand portfolio for use in the Keurig Cold beverage system.

The system is currently under development and is expected to be available for consumers in fiscal year 2015.

Commenting on the new facility, Governor Deal said that Keurig’s new facility is a great addition to Georgia’s already diverse manufacturing industry, and will offer many good jobs for citizens.

"The fact that the company has chosen to manufacture it new product line in Georgia is a testament to our skilled workforce and logistics infrastructure," Deal said.

Keurig Green Mountain president and CEO Brian Kelley said: "Keurig Cold is an exciting new multi-brand platform for our company and ensuring beverage pod production capacity and efficiency are key to its success."

In addition to the new facility, the company has eight production and distribution facilities in the US, and conducts research and development activities in its facilities in Burlington in Reading, Wakefield in Massachusetts and Waterbury of Vermont.