Zweigle’s completes Phase I of expansion

Zweigle’s Inc. on Friday cut the ribbon on an ongoing expansion project at the company’s Plymouth Avenue facility. This phase of the expansion included the addition of 15,000 square feet to the company’s advanced manufacturing plant.

The entire project will allow the company to meet the growing demand in markets outside of New York state for its private label and co-packing business. Zweigle’s had considered moving the operation out of state but chose to stay in the region due to state support. The company has committed to hiring up to 33 new employees; at least 12 of those positions will be reserved for workers impacted by poverty; almost 60 jobs will be retained.

“We are proud to continue our 140-year legacy in the state of New York. With assistance from Empire State Development, we have completed Phase I of our expansion project, which will allow us to provide new quality employment opportunities for residents in the city of Rochester and continue the growth we’ve experienced over the last five years,” said Zweigle’s CEO Julie Camardo. “This project would not have been possible without help from ESD, Monroe County, the city of Rochester and the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce.”

ESD provided support for the expansion project with up to $600,000 through the Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program in exchange for job creation commitments. The agency also will provide $250,000 through the regional Upstate Revitalization Initiative; another $150,000 will come from a Capital Grant and the New York State Job Development Authority (JDA) assisted the project with $1.86 million.

Phase one of the project included property acquisition, building demolition, renovations, new construction and the purchase of machinery and equipment. Zweigle’s plans to further invest in additional improvements to the state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the city of Rochester over the next few years.

The total project cost was placed at close to $18.8 million. The city of Rochester, Monroe County, Rochester Gas and Electric and Greater Rochester Enterprise also assisted with this project.

“Zweigle’s is a homegrown food manufacturer with deep roots in our community that has played an integral part in Rochester’s long history of innovation,” said GRE President and CEO Matt Hurlbutt. “Our region’s fully integrated supply chain and talented workforce helps Zweigle’s and more than 250 smart food and beverage manufacturers thrive in Rochester, N.Y.”

Established in Rochester in 1880, Zweigle’s is a 140-year-old, fifth-generation family-owned business whose CEO is the original founder’s great-great-granddaughter. The company’s renowned products include chicken sausage, classic sausage, deli meats, grilled chicken, meatballs and its world-famous natural casing and skinless hot dogs.

“For more than 100 years, Zweigle’s has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to the city of Rochester,” said ESD Acting Commissioner and President and CEO-designate Eric Gertler. “The enduring growth of this family-owned business reflects our strategic investment in keeping renowned companies and their unparalleled products in New York state, where they can continue to thrive and create top-quality jobs.”

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