Food Processing Industry Assets
Value Supply Chain
Northwest Ohio offers a strong supply chain in the food industry with some of the biggest manufacturing equipment and service providers
Natural Resources
The adjacent Great Lakes provide Northwest Ohio and regional businesses with access to the largest supply of fresh water
Research & Innovation
The nationally recognized Center for Innovative Food Technology is an incredible resource offering technical innovations and solutions to the food industry
Logistics
A comprehensive transportation network and intermodal connections gives businesses fast, efficient and cost-effective access to customers
Certified Food Sites
Northwest Ohio is home to four certified and shovel-ready sites for the food processing industry shovelreadysites.info
QUICK FACTS
- Food processing workforce of 16,000
- 300 food/ag companies
- CIFT kitchen incubator helps accelerate startups
- Home to the world’s largest soup plant
- Home to the largest ketchup factory in U.S.
- Lowest taxes in Midwest for food/ag industry
- 74,000 farms, 14 million acres of agriculture statewide
Northwest Ohio Food Processing Over the last 3 years:
31
Projects
1,285
New Jobs
$401Mil
Capital Investment
Northwest Ohio is built on a broad infrastructure and culture supporting the food processing industry. This breeds success for existing businesses and lends to the attraction of new companies like the food packaging giant deSter. Proximity to raw materials, a favorable business climate and genuine support at the state, regional and local levels has led to greater prosperity for businesses and communities.
What They're Saying
After we saw the incentives, the advantages and the support from Allen County, the RGP and JobsOhio, we decided to set up operations here in Northwest Ohio.
Johnny Kattar, Corporate Development, deSter
You’ve got efficient access to a lot of big markets but yet you’ve got a lot of the benefits of operating in a small town, matched with a workforce that’s passionate about the business.
Tom Davis, CEO, Lakeview Farms
RECENT FOOD Processing ANNOUNCEMENTS
Company | Investment | New Jobs |
McLane Foods | $119 Million | 425 |
Keystone Foods | $5 Million | 50 |
Apio | $28 Million | 150 |