Food and Beverage Processing Site Selection

Some of the nation's top food and beverage producers are in the Carolinas, with nearly 700 manufacturers employing over 70,000 people.

Duke Energy offers one of the most powerful site selection tools available. For companies involved in food & beverage processing site selection work, the tool is designed to: Evaluate the demographics, wages, labor pool, transportation system, as well as search for sites, buildings, suppliers, competitors or customers throughout North or South Carolina.

Available, Affordable, Skilled Labor

For companies involved in food and beverage processing plant site selection activities, the Carolinas have a ready pool of a talented and affordable work force.

  • The Carolinas rank fifth in the nation in number of workers employed in the food and beverage manufacturing industries.
  • The Carolinas food manufacturing wages are ranked well below the national average. North Carolina ranks 44th and South Carolina ranks 39th.

Industry Presence

The Carolinas have a proven track record in food and beverage industry site selection success stories. The Carolinas rank second in the Southeast in number of food and beverage manufacturers.

  • Campbells Soup
  • Sara Lee Corporation
  • Krispy Kreme
  • Nestlé
  • Tyson
  • Frito-Lay (PepsiCo)
  • Miller Brewing
  • Kellogg Co.
  • Pepperidge Farms
  • Unilever
  • Cott Beverages
  • Keystone Foods
  • Perdue Farms

Incentives/Tax Advantages

To demonstrate North Carolinas’ commitment to food & beverage processing site selection, the North Carolina General Assembly made significant enhancements to its existing incentive tools:

  • The Jobs Development Investment Grant, a key incentive tool, was expanded to 25 grants per year, and the cap was raised from $10 to $15 million, extended to 2006.
  • An additional $20 million was secured for the One North Carolina Fund (cash incentives).
  • The wage test was eliminated for Industrial Revenue Bonds.

South Carolina has one of the most attractive tax climates in the Southeast—no state property tax, no local income tax, no inventory tax, no wholesale tax, and no unitary tax on worldwide profits.

Proximity to Major Southeastern Markets

The Carolinas offer a robust business climate and access to diverse markets within 300 miles/500 kilometers of its boarders.

  • Population of more than 40 million people.
  • Growing Southeastern metropolitan centers such as Charlotte (N.C.), Columbia (S.C.), Atlanta (Ga.), Richmond (Va.), and Jacksonville (Fla.).
  • In 2003, the Carolinas issued 117,417 residential building permits, which accounted for 6.2 percent of all permits issued in the U.S. North Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Virginia are among the top 10 permit issuing states.
  • The 5-year state population growth is 7 percent in N.C., 6 percent in S.C., 7 percent in Va. and 10 percent in both Ga. and Fla.

Superior Transportation Infrastructure

A sufficient transportation system is critical for food & beverage processing site selection. The Carolinas are centrally located on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. and have a robust transportation network.

  • Four Class I railroads with 37 freight lines operate over 5,500 miles of track throughout the Carolinas.
  • The Carolinas recognize the importance of suitable roadways when being considered for food & beverage processing site selection. Crisscrossed with 6 major interstates (I-85, I-26, I-77, I-95, I-20 and I-40) and over 140,000 miles of highway, the Carolinas are linked to seaports, businesses and consumers in all directions. Approximately 96 percent of N.C. has access to four-lane highways within 10 minutes.
  • Five deep water ports, specializing in intermodal system terminals with interstate and rail access to markets throughout the U.S., are located in the Carolinas. N.C. was the first port operated inland container staging and storage facility in the nation. S.C. is the fourth largest container port in the U.S.
  • Charleston ranked 30th for tonnage transported across its transportation network (30 Million Short Tons).
  • Seven international airports (Charlotte-Douglas, Piedmont Triad, Raleigh/Durham, Wilmington, Greenville-Spartanburg, Charleston, and Myrtle Beach International), along with nine regional airports, provide a global gateway to and from the Carolinas.

Environmental Permitting

For companies that anticipate permitting to be a risk in their food & beverage processing site selection efforts, the Carolinas have environmental programs to assist companies in moving through the process quickly.

  • Pro-business environment
  • Quick turnaround for most applicants (average 6 weeks)
  • In line with federal standards

Reliable and Affordable Energy

Duke Energy has highly qualified energy experts and site consultants who can assist in any food & beverage processing site selection project. The service is free and confidential.