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Greater Hazleton is known globally as a hub for food processing industry companies

Kit Kats. Prosciutto. Stroehmann’s bread. Entenmann’s cakes. It wouldn’t appear that these four things have anything in common. But, did you know that they are all manufactured in the Hazleton area?

Greater Hazleton has become well-known across the country and around the globe as a premier location for companies in the food processing industry. For decades, food processing industry companies have found great success locating their operations in the Greater Hazleton region and throughout Northeast Pennsylvania because of a highly-skilled manufacturing workforce and prime access to major interstate highways.

Currently, more than 2,700 individuals are employed at nearly a dozen food manufacturing or food-related distribution companies in or near CAN DO’s Humboldt Industrial Park and Valmont Industrial Park. In the Northeast Pennsylvania region as a whole, approximately 5,000 individuals work in the food processing industry with almost 20 companies throughout Luzerne, Lackawanna, Schuylkill and Columbia counties employing over 50 people.

In addition to providing 5,000 jobs for Northeast Pennsylvania residents, area food manufacturing companies produce or distribute many of the products we find in our homes and local supermarkets every day. The Hershey Company facility in the Humboldt Industrial Park makes all of the Kit Kat products that are sold in the United States. Separate Bimbo Bakeries facilities in the Humboldt Industrial Park and Valmont Industrial Park bake popular Stroehmann’s and Entenmann’s products. Citterio USA operates its only U.S. plant in Freeland and is the largest American producer of prosciutto. The Tootsie Roll Industries location in Humboldt is the northeast U.S. distributor for all Tootsie Roll products.

Other well-known companies throughout Northeast Pennsylvania include Wise Foods, Kraft Foods Global, Inc., Quaker Oats/Gatorade, Ateeco, Inc. (the makers of Mrs. T’s pierogies), Yuengling Brewery and Hillshire Brands.

As part of its strategic plan, CAN DO has placed an emphasis on attracting food processing companies to Greater Hazleton and runs the We CAN DO Food blog, which features a variety of stories pertaining to the local food processing industry, including articles about local and regional training programs that will advance an employee’s manufacturing skills.

The high level of manufacturing competence that area employees possess is a big reason why Greater Hazleton is such a hub for the food processing industry. Companies consistently cite their employees’ work ethic and dedication as a major reason for their business success in the region. The area has a large pool of skilled employees who have the experience and necessary qualifications needed to succeed in today’s high-tech food processing positions.

An executive at a Bimbo Bakeries facility in Greater Hazleton said, “The people in this area have a great work ethic. In particular, the people who work for us are very conscientious and they care about what they do, which is critical in an operation that makes food.”

An official from The Hershey Company plant in the Humboldt Industrial Park, added, “Hazleton is an important part of our total U.S. manufacturing network. The plant was attractive because of the great talent at the facility, the strong work ethic and productivity and access to a large pool of potential candidates for future positions.”

Food processing employees throughout Northeast PA are able to continually enhance their knowledge and skills as a result of several modernized manufacturing training programs, a dedicated collaboration between industries and area colleges and universities and an innovative manufacturing culture throughout the region that has led to the creation of many high-performing industry clusters like food processing.

For those individuals who are just entering the workforce or new to the food processing industry, there are short-course certificate programs available at several colleges and universities throughout the region, including Penn State Hazleton, Luzerne County Community College, Lackawanna College, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Johnson College and Keystone College.

Additionally, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC) and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Manufacturers and Employers Association (MAEA) offer a variety of training courses that directly correlate to the food processing industry.

CAN DO President and CEO Kevin O’Donnell said, “We are proud to have some of the most globally-recognized names in the food processing and distribution industries right here in our parks in Greater Hazleton. The commitment and dedication that the employees show every day helps the Greater Hazleton region contribute to the $5.1 billion in annual sales that the food processing industry generates in Pennsylvania each year.”

Times Leader file photo The Kit Kat mascot waves as Hershey’s Hazle Township plant employees gather for a news conference announcing a $60 million expansion project in the Humboldt Industrial Park in March.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL031018KitKat_3.cmyk-1-.jpg.optimal.jpgTimes Leader file photo The Kit Kat mascot waves as Hershey’s Hazle Township plant employees gather for a news conference announcing a $60 million expansion project in the Humboldt Industrial Park in March.

Provided by CAN DO