Niagara Bottling to establish Mid-Atlantic operation in Chesterfield County

Governor Terry McAuliffe announced Tuesday that Niagara Bottling LLC, a family-owned and operated bottled beverage supplier, will invest $95 million to establish a manufacturing and bottling operation at Meadowville Technology Park in Chesterfield County.

The company will utilize state-of-the-art filtration to produce its Niagara brand and private label bottled water. Virginia successfully competed against Maryland for the project, which will create 76 new jobs.

“Recruiting companies such as Niagara Bottling is at the heart of our efforts to create jobs, diversify and build a new Virginia economy,” said Governor McAuliffe. “We are pleased Niagara chose Chesterfield County for this significant expansion, and are confident the company will thrive in the Commonwealth, thanks to our strategic location and motivated workforce.”

“I welcome Niagara Bottling to the Commonwealth. Chesterfield will be a strategic location for its new manufacturing and bottling center,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “I am pleased we were able to assist the company in their east coast expansion and efforts to reach a growing customer base. The Commonwealth offers the best overall business environment for a company to grow, and I am confident Niagara Bottling will benefit from our world-class assets. Congratulations to Niagara Bottling and Chesterfield County!”

Niagara Bottling is the largest private label bottled water supplier in the U.S., supplying major retailers across the nation. Headquartered in Ontario, California, the company began as a family business in 1963 by offering five-gallon containers for home and office delivery. Niagara expanded in the early 1990s to offer single-serve private label bottle water for grocery, club, convenience and wholesale customers and has established itself as a national leader in high quality, affordable bottled water.

“Niagara Bottling, LLC is committed to providing a high-quality product with unmatched quality service to its customers,” said Brian Hess, Executive Vice President of Operation for Niagara. “The Chesterfield, Virginia location allows the company to fulfill that commitment by providing an optimal location that is close to both its existing and growing customer market.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Chesterfield County and the Greater Richmond Partnership to secure this project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $500,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Chesterfield County with the project. Niagara will also be eligible to receive sales and use tax exemptions on manufacturing equipment. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will also be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Niagara Bottling, LLC to Chesterfield,” said Steve Elswick, Chairman of the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors. “Niagara falls within two of the county’s target clusters, food and beverage and advanced manufacturing. Niagara’s manufacturing and filling facility will be the most efficient and sustainable in the world. The 76 manufacturing jobs are just the type of employment opportunities we want for our Chesterfield residents.

“Niagara is the largest private-label beverage supplier in the country, and bottled water is the number one bottled beverage in the nation,” said Dorothy Jaeckle, Bermuda District Supervisor.  “We are extremely pleased that such an outstanding brand has joined the list of leading brands that continue to choose Meadowville. I am particularly impressed with Niagara’s commitment to their employees and to the communities in which they have located.”

“It is great to have Niagara Bottling coming to Chesterfield County,” said Delegate Riley Ingram. “Meadowville is an excellent location and the jobs are very much appreciated and needed in this area.”

“I am extremely grateful that Niagara Bottling LLC has decided to invest $95 million in Virginia, particularly Chesterfield County,” said Senator Rosalyn Dance. “This creation of jobs and the business investment will further diversify Virginia’s economy. An investment of this magnitude doesn’t happen without a tremendous amount of hard work and coordination between the Administration and all of the involved stakeholders. On behalf of the region I am extremely grateful.”