New Manufacturing Investment is Largest in Roanoke County History

Ardagh Group, a Luxembourg-based global leader in metal and glass packaging for the food and beverage industry, today announced plans to locate a state-of-the-art metal can manufacturing facility in Roanoke County. The company will create 96 new jobs and invest $93.5 million in real estate and equipment. It is the largest single manufacturing investment in Roanoke County history.

The company has purchased the 525,000 square foot former Hanover Direct distribution center at 5022 Hollins Road and plans to begin operations by the third quarter of 2014.

Earlier this year Ardagh Group signed a long term supply agreement with a major customer, ConAgra, requiring the company to add capacity in the eastern United States. It selected Roanoke County over locations in Kentucky, North Carolina, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

“We looked at many sites for our expansion and the decision to establish a Roanoke County facility was driven by factors such as the business tax structure, cost of living, infrastructure, logistic advantages, proximity to our major customer, and the availability of skilled labor,” said James Willich, CEO of Ardagh’s metal packaging business in the U.S.

“We welcome Ardagh to the strong manufacturing sector in the Roanoke Region,” said Beth Doughty, executive director the Roanoke Regional Partnership. “The reasons this location makes sense for Ardagh are the same reasons so many manufacturers prosper here.”

The $93.5 million investment includes $80 million in equipment. The company is completely renovating the cavernous building to accommodate manufacturing of 4.5 million cans per day, which represents approximately 5 percent of the total U.S. food can market. Ardagh will be hiring skilled machine operators, managers, and support staff.

“This represents the largest single manufacturing investment in Roanoke County’s history, and we anticipate even greater long term investments from the company and its suppliers,” said Michael Altizer, chairman of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors.

The Roanoke Regional Partnership, Roanoke County, and Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked together to secure the project.

Ardagh Group is a global leader in glass and metal packaging solutions for most of the world’s leading food, beverage, and consumer brands. The company has more than 100 facilities and 18,000 employees in 25 countries producing 26.6 billion containers a year.

The company’s U.S. metal packaging operations are based in Carnegie, Pa. In addition to Roanoke, the company has facilities in Bloomsburg, Pa., Weirton, W.Va., Conklin, N.Y., and Terminal Island, Calif.