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Emily Stock
Project Manager . Business Development
Advanced Manufacturing Team
804-545-5746
EStock@YesVirginia.org
Since 1999, Food Processing companies have invested $2.04 billion and created more than 6,110 new jobs. Recent major announcements include: Tyson Foods, Kraft (Nabisco and Planters Divisions), Dr. Lucy’s, Sabra Dipping Company, WhiteWave/Hero, Unilever Lipton, MillerCoors, Hershey, Massimo Zanetti, Maple Leaf Bakery, Gatorade, Nestle, Mother Parkers Tea and Coffee, Prime Choice Foods, Pepsi Bottling Group, and Icelandic Seafood.
- One of Virginia's largest manufacturing sectors
- Employs more than 34,700
- Direct economic output of $18.2 billion
- Offers a wealth of excellent power, water, and other business infrastructure resources
- Sales and use tax exemptions on production-related machinery and equipment, all utilities, and materials used in production
- Central location on the Atlantic Coast provides interstate and rail access to the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest
- Access to international markets provided by the Port of Hampton Roads and Washington-Dulles International Airport
In 2008, Virginia's Food Processing industry employed 34,777 people. The Food Processing industry accounted for 12.7% of Virginia's total manufacturing employment of 272,772, and is the second largest sector behind Transportation Equipment. The top three Food Processing sectors by employment are Meat & Poultry Processing (14,429), Other Food Manufacturing (4,559) and Beverage Manufacturing (4,353). Of the total, these three sectors account for 41%, 13%, and 13% respectively. Virginia’s Food Industry has a direct economic output of $18.2 billion and supports an additional $14.8 billion in economic activity.
There are 498 Food Processing firms in Virginia. The largest sectors are Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing with 156 firms, followed by Beverage Manufacturing with 110 firms and Other Food Manufacturing with 53 firms. Of the total, these three account for 31%, 22%, and 11%, respectively.
10
Largest Food Processing Employers in Virginia |
Gwaltney of Smithfield |
Perdue |
Tyson |
Cargill |
Kraft |
McKee Foods |
Hershey |
George's Chicken |
Anheuser Busch |
Boar's Head Provisions |
| Selected
Food Processing Occupations |
Virginia
Employment |
Virginia
Mean Wage |
U.S.
Mean Wage |
| General & Operations Managers |
40,670 |
$57.48 |
$51.91 |
| Industrial Production Managers |
2,360 |
$44.82 |
$43.85 |
| First-Line Supervisors |
13,510 |
$25.76 |
$25.72 |
| Bakers |
2,530 |
$12.34 |
$12.03 |
| Food Batchmakers |
1,640 |
$12.19 |
$12.64 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators & Tenders |
1,100 |
$12.06 |
$11.59 |
| Machinists |
7,250 |
$18.08 |
$18.03 |
| Mixing & Blending Machine Setters, Operators & Tenders |
3,690 |
$15.52 |
$15.70 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers & Weighers |
10,500 |
$16.66 |
$16.29 |
| Packaging & Filling Machine Operators & Tenders |
6,480 |
$11.67 |
$12.76 |
| Truck Drivers or Light Delivery Service |
24,110 |
$13.75 |
$14.55 |
| Laborers & Material Movers |
49,040 |
$11.69 |
$11.87 |
| Packers |
17,190 |
$9.53 |
$10.15 |
Virginia's nationally acclaimed education system serves as a pipeline, supplying businesses with a steady stream of skilled new entrants. Our attention to education is reflected in Virginia's superior, well-prepared labor force.
- Elementary and secondary schools rank among the best in the nation
- Over 1.2 million students enrolled in elementary and secondary schools with approximately 82,000 graduating annually
- More than 80% of graduating seniors continue their education in a two- or four-year degree program or have other continuing education plans
Strong occupational and technical training programs designed to meet the needs of the Food Processing Industry are provided by Virginia's colleges and universities, Community College System, and communities.
- Virginia Tech's Department of Food Science and Technology
offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, research, and an extension program
- Virginia Tech’s Department of Food Science and
Technology’s Value Added Product Development division offers access
to a packaging and processing pilot plant, among other resources ranging
from financial assistance to food safety regulatory assistance
- Virginia Tech’s Department of Human Nutrition,
Foods and Exercise routinely works hand-in hand with Food Sciences and Technology
to jointly address issues on nutritional value and product development/packaging
- The Virginia Community College System offers manufacturing,
technology, engineering and related programs
- Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, home to the
Virginia Packaging Application Center, offers an Advanced Manufacturing
and Packaging Technology curriculum
- The Center for High Performance Manufacturing (CHPM)
at Virginia Tech works to help manufacturing firms stay competitive
- Two of the nation's largest railroads, CSX Corporation
and Norfolk Southern Corporation, have extensive infrastructure throughout
the State
- Fourteen railroads operate on more than 3,400 miles
of railway in Virginia, of which more than 3,100 miles are Class I—one
of the strongest rail networks in the nation
- Six major interstate highways, I-95, I-85, I-81, I-64,
I-77 and I-66, provide quick access to Northeast, Southeast and Midwest
markets
- 14 commercial airports serve the Commonwealth, including
two of the nation's largest, Washington Dulles International and Ronald
Reagan Washington National
- The Port of Virginia offers world-class shipping facilities
and a schedule of approximately 3,000 sailings annually to over 250 ports
in 100 foreign countries.
- Stable energy resource pool to serve present and future residential, commercial, industrial and transportation needs
- 10 natural gas companies serve the State with an extensive network of underground pipes and other gas facilities
- Highly skilled and productive workforce - ranks among the top ten states in labor productivity
The average cost per unit of electricity for the industrial
sector is 5.33 cents in Virginia, compared to the 5.85 cents for the South Atlantic
region and 6.66 cents for the nation.
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