First Quality Baby Products, will invest $418 million to expand its manufacturing presence in Macon-Bibb County, Georgia, creating 600 new jobs.
“We are always grateful when job creators like First Quality choose to expand in Georgia, and we will continue to work to strengthen these long-term partnerships that enrich communities in every corner of the state,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “More than 70 percent of economic development projects last year were expansions of companies already operating here in our state, and thanks to companies like First Quality, that positive trend will continue.”
First Quality Baby Products, and its subsidiaries manufacture baby diapers; youth and training pants; a full line of adult incontinence, feminine hygiene and wipes products; paper towels; and toilet paper, while packaging products for commercial, retail and healthcare channels.
First Quality Baby Products is expanding manufacturing capacity in Macon, GA, with a new facility adjacent to this existing plant. (Photo: Premium baby products)
First Quality’s expanded facility will be adjacent to its current location in Macon. The company has been in Macon since 2008, following the acquisition of Covidien™ Retail Products.
“First Quality has been an important member of the Macon-Bibb team for many years. We are proud to support them as they invest millions in new infrastructure in our community, which means hundreds of jobs will be preserved and hundreds more created,” said Macon-Bibb Mayor Lester Miller. “This is the best community in the best state for doing business, and the success and expansion of First Quality is proof of that!”
P&B invests in cold storage in South Georgia
The Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority (VLCDA) has announced that P&B Cold Storage will build a 200,000 square foot facility in the Westside Industrial Park in Valdosta. The significant development will create 100 new jobs and generate more than $30 million in capital investments.
“We are delighted that P&B Cold Storage has selected Valdosta for its new facility,” said Brad Folsom, president of the VLCDA board of directors. “They are investing significantly in our community and will help expand jobs and boost our local and regional economy.”
P&B Cold Storage is a subsidiary of North American Cold Storage, founded by Scott Parker and Michael Betten in 2013. With 50 years of experience in the public cold storage industry, Parker and Betten use a “hands-on” approach to management and have developed a business model that provides customers with a profitable and reliable service.
Valdosta, Georgia, will be the site for P&B Cold Storage’s newest facility. (Photo: Adobe Stock/Roberto)
After opening P&B Cold Storage’s first warehouse in Woodburn, Indiana, in 2019, the co-owners began looking to expand.
“Last year, we began discussing with our customers their need to consolidate the current supply network into fewer sites,” Parker said. “There is a need for a distribution center in the south, and since we don’t want to fight the already congested Atlanta area, we started looking into other cities along Interstate 75.”
Parker added that location was key in selecting the Valdosta site. “This was a strategic location decision to meet supply chain needs throughout the South, primarily in Georgia and Florida.”
Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson said, “P&B Cold Storage’s investment in our community is a testament to Valdosta’s appeal as a business-friendly environment. This important development not only creates much-needed jobs for our city, but also strengthens our position as a key player in the regional economy. “We welcome P&B Cold Storage to Valdosta and look forward to the positive impact they will have on our community.”
As the company expands, including construction of another site in Indiana scheduled to open in 2025, Betten said, “We realize that a secret to our company’s success is how we recognize and value our employees. “We have an obligation to empower our employees with every available method, including notable salaries and benefits, flexible schedules, and helping them continue their education.”
Andrea Schruijer, CEO of VLCDA, said, “Valdosta’s prime location and strong infrastructure consistently attracts leading food processing and logistics companies, solidifying our reputation as a central hub for the Southeast Corridor. By locating in Valdosta, P&B Cold Storage will be able to provide reliable and efficient delivery of cold stored products throughout the Southeast.”
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