Vienna Beef plans to make pickles in Newcomerstown Industrial Park, creating 51 new jobs
NEWCOMERSTOWN ‒ Vienna Beef, Ltd., manufacturer of the classic Chicago-style hot dog, will be moving into the Newcomerstown Industrial Park, creating 51 full-time positions and generating more than $2.7 million in new annual payroll.
The Chicago-based company will be operating in the old Caito Foods Service building at 500 Enterprise Drive, where it will make pickles.
"It's a relief to know that we got them, and we're looking forward to helping them any way we can. It's a good company, and they've worked well with us so far. We'd like to welcome them to Newcomerstown," said Mayor Pat Cadle.
More on the site: Newcomerstown in the News: New owner in place for SpartanNash site
Refrigerated pickle production lines
Vienna Beef also manufactures Polish sausage and Italian beef that are sold to restaurants and food service nationwide. The proposed project includes the acquisition and retrofitting of the existing facility to install refrigerated pickle production lines to address rising demand. The Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved a 1.245%, seven-year Job Creation Tax Credit for this project.
Caito opened its Ohio Distribution Center in the Newcomerstown Industrial Park in October 2001. It closed operations there in 2017. SpartanNash then took possession of the facility. It sold the building to Provender Partners, a California-based real estate investment company that specializes in food-related properties, in 2022.
"Any time you get a new company in, it helps you with revenue as far as taxes go," Cadle said. "We've got a nice industrial park that you want to see get used, and we've got a building that has sat there empty for a while. So, it's good to get that filled again and know that it's being productive. With the new housing addition coming in, we have a place for their workers too."
More on housing: Development with 50 to 60 houses planned for site half-mile west of Newcomerstown
Plans are in the works to build a new housing development on a 99.35-acre tract owned by the Wentz Trust a half mile west of Newcomerstown on Coshocton County Road 9. A portion of the land is across the road from the village's West Lawn Cemetery.
"When you're on a roll, you want to keep it going and make it last as long as you can," the mayor said.
Officials have been working the past three months to bring Vienna Beef to the industrial park.
'A perfect fit for Newcomerstown'
Marla Akridge, head of the Tuscarawas County Economic Development Corp., noted the company has a facility in the Chicago suburbs and another one near St. Petersburg, Fla. Vienna Beef is looking to expand into the Midwest and New England markets.
"When they saw this building, it was a perfect fit. We're encouraged because we see this as the beginning for them to expand at that location," she said.
She said the building sold itself, and the local workforce was also a drawn. A human resources person from Vienna Beef is already onsite.
The first step for the company is to remodel the facility. Then it will begin the hiring process, which could begin in the next few months, Akridge said
Anyone interested in applying for a job can send her a resume at makridge@tuscedc.com. Vendors interested in working with the company can also contact Akridge at her email address.
For now, the company only plans on manufacturing fresh pickles at the facility. The pickles have a shelf life of 60 to 90 days.
"We're very optimistic that down the road we could have some additional things that this company does," Akridge said.
"It's a perfect fit for Newcomerstown, this project. It fits the building. It fits the profile of the community. I said this at the tax board meeting, we do love pickles, so we're excited to start eating a lot of pickles."
Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Chicago's Vienna Beef to create 51 new full-time jobs in Newcomerstown
