Cedar’s Foods is nearing completion of construction on a new 125,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility at its Ward Hill, Mass., headquarters manufacturing plant. The $100 million facility will double total annual production output to 208 million pounds of hommus and Mediterranean foods, enabling the company to support growth of its signature products and private label, co-manufacturing business.
“Cedar’s is dedicated to providing our customers with the highest quality, authentically crafted hommus and Mediterranean foods, using the best ingredients inspired from authentic recipes passed down by our founders,” says Chris Gaudette, chief financial officer. “This investment represents our long-term commitment to expanding our brand and growing the category, while retaining our values as a local, family-owned company.”
After a year of construction, the new facility, which is set to open in August, will create an additional 125 jobs, adding to the 750 current employees who work across three facilities at the Ward Hill campus. Cedar’s maintains an existing 87,000-square-foot production facility, an 87,000-square-foot distribution facility and a 75,000-square-foot dry storage facility, bringing its total presence to nearly 375,000 square feet.
The new facility will feature a fully automated production process, utilizing Cedar’s proprietary processing systems along with advanced robotic technology. Cedar’s also collaborated with local utility companies to optimize energy efficiencies, and installed LED lighting systems, high-performance wall insulation, insulated and automatic doors, high-performance HVAC systems, heat recovery systems and variable frequency drive precision electronic devices in motors throughout the building.
“We believe that this will be the most advanced hommus manufacturing facility ever built,” says Nick Scangas, chief operating officer. “We have successfully adopted the latest technology, which will control costs and increase efficiencies, all while maintaining our proven process of delivering products without the use of preservatives. This truly is a win-win-win for Cedar’s, our consumers and the environment.”
“We built this company on our family values and recipes, growing it through the hard work of our dedicated management team, employees and loyal customers. For this we are truly grateful,” says Charles Hanna, chief executive officer. “I am immensely proud that our company, which was founded nearly four decades ago, has blossomed into such a successful national brand.”
