Kraft celebrates 75 years in Springfield, invests $100 million in facility

Earlier this month, the Kraft Foods manufacturing facility in Springfield celebrated 75 years of business in the community and 60 years at its current site. Kraft also announced that it is investing approximately $100 million at the Springfield site, which is being used for a new product line and for upgraded technology and equipment for making Kraft cheeses. Following Kraft’s nearly $50 million capital investment in 2012, this new investment demonstrates the company’s commitment to staying competitive and remaining a legacy employer in Springfield.

The Chamber and its economic development arm, the Springfield Business Development Corporation led a project team that assisted Kraft in this expansion, helping the company utilize local tools to ensure the Springfield facility continues to compete effectively for new investment. Kraft is the first company in Springfield to use the Community Economic Development Rider incentive offered by City Utilities to encourage local expansions. This collaboration follows the 2012 investment in which Kraft used Chapter 100 industrial revenue bonds from the City of Springfield, which helped ensure that its more than 800 full-time employees would remain in Springfield. The facility also uses part-time employees, and including those, the site employs about 900 people.

“Our facility is extremely grateful for the productive partnership we have had with the Springfield Chamber, the city and the county governments, and City Utilities through the years,” said Todd Sherman, plant manager of the Kraft Springfield facility.  “We appreciate that they work to provide a supportive business climate in Springfield and assist us as we strengthen our local operations.”