Raleigh-Cary MSA: A Prime Hub for Food Manufacturing in the Post-Pandemic Era
Raleigh-Cary a Top 5 MSA for Food Manufacturing
In the September issue of Site Selection Magazine, the Raleigh-Cary, MSA was cited as being in the Top 5 Locations for Food Manufacturing among large MSAs in the US. The article, “How to Find America’s Best Cities for Food Manufacturing” takes an in-depth look at the changing needs and demands placed on the Food and Beverage industry and what this has meant for companies looking to locate or expand their operations. The article also highlights the site selection industry’s first ever Food Manufacturing rankings and industry insights report, conducted by a prominent site selection firm, Global Location Strategies (GLS).
Site Selection, a trusted source in delivering location intelligence and actionable insights into corporate expansion projects, identified the following 6 key factors influencing the changing needs and increased demands of the food and beverage sector, all of which are a result of COVID-19 lifestyle and behavioral changes, as well as subsequent economic impacts of the pandemic:
Delivery of fresh meals direct to consumer’s doorsteps.
Demand for fresh pet food.
Continued & increasing demand for plant-based food options and meat alternatives.
Increases in the need for cold storage.
Economic pressure on companies and consumers to seek more affordable and cost-saving methods.
According to GLS’s Principal and VP of Location Intelligence, Tess Fay, the industry has seen steady and continued growth throughout the pandemic, stating that hiring has remained constant and investments in this sector have continued to increase. This changing environment and increased activity from the sector prompted GLS to conduct an analysis to determine ideal locations for food manufacturing companies, resulting in the site selection industry’s first ever Food Manufacturing Ranking, where the Raleigh-Cary MSA performed well. The report included over 100 data points and took into consideration important factors that companies consider in their site location process, including demographics, educational attainment, workforce data, logistics, quality of life and more.
Why Wake County?
It is no surprise that Wake County secured a top spot in this nationwide analysis, offering one of the most robust and diverse economic ecosystems in the nation and allowing companies across a spectrum of industries to find the workforce, business environment and industry partnerships that allow for long-term growth in the market.
Specific to the food and beverage industry, North Carolina made strong investments in this space starting in 2017 with a dedicated food and beverage position at the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), focused solely on the recruitment and expansion of companies within this sector. Locally, Wake County has workforce and industry partnerships through North Carolina State University’s Center for Additive Manufacturing & Logistics, NC Manufacturing Extension Partnership and robust and technical educational programs through NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Agricultural Institute (AGI) offering students agricultural engineering degrees and training for technological advancements in agriculture, agribusiness and more.
In addition, Wake County is home to the largest community college in the State through Wake Technical Community College with 70,000 students enrolled annually for certifications and technical training geared specifically for companies located in Wake County.
Wake County also offers diversity in location and assets among its 12 municipalities and Research Triangle Park and has the following notable food and beverage facilities across the County:
Butterball, Garner, NC (HQ, Manufacturing, R&D): Packaged turkey products.
Improved Nature, Garner, NC (HQ, Manufacturing): Plant-based protein products.
US Foods (Distribution), Zebulon, NC: Food Distributor & Restaurant Supplier
Kellog Company, Cary, NC (Manufacturing): Cereal breakfast foods.
EnviroFlight, Apex, NC (Manufacturing): Sustainable insect ingredients for manufactured animal feed.
Luihn Food Systems, Morrisville, NC (HQ): Food and beverage services.
