Northern Kentucky location to serve the commonwealth and surrounding states
BOONE COUNTY, Ky. (Jan. 26, 2024) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear joined local officials and leaders from Bakery Express Midwest, a commercial bakery manufacturing company, to break ground on its new Boone County location, which includes a more than $20 million investment creating about 225 full-time jobs in the region.
“Growth in Kentucky’s food and beverage industry has been a key part of the amazing economic momentum we’ve been experiencing,” said Gov. Beshear. “I’m thrilled to welcome Bakery Express Midwest to Northern Kentucky. This is a fantastic commitment to the commonwealth and an opportunity for job growth in the region.”
The company is opening a 50,000-square-foot facility in Northern Kentucky that will serve Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee with fresh baked goods. Construction is expected to be completed by December 2024, with the bakery operational by April 2025.
“On behalf of the nearly 700 Bakery Express team members across the country, I could not be more excited about the opportunity today’s groundbreaking represents,” said Bakery Express Midwest President Charles L. Burman. “One of the things I have learned along the way is that it takes a team of partners committed to the success of a project to get to this stage. And that is what I have been fortunate enough to have, great partners. The team from Bakery Express Florida, the team from BE NKY, Team Kentucky, the Cushman Wakefield team and the Geis Construction team have been invaluable partners in getting this project underway. And, of course, the teams from Wawa whose entry into this market has made this entire project possible. We look forward to being a great addition to Boone County, as this area continues to grow and prosper.”
Founded in 1970 in Baltimore, Maryland, Bakery Express Mid Atlantic Inc. was the first of several bakery companies founded by Burman. Bakery Express of Central Florida, Bakery Express of Central Texas, Bakery Express of Southern California and now Bakery Express Midwest have all been formed to provide fresh bakery products to over 4,000 retail outlets across the United States. Bakery Express companies currently employ 620 people, and the company’s fresh daily product line consists of a wide variety of items, including donuts, muffins, cookies, brownies, croissants, bagels, pastries, cupcakes and other specialty items.
Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore spoke on the large scope of the food and beverage industry in Northern Kentucky: “Bakery Express’ more than $20 million investment adds to Northern Kentucky’s growing food and flavoring industry, which already boasts more than 30 food and flavor manufacturers and nationally recognized craft breweries and distilleries. Northern Kentucky’s one-day drive proximity to more than half the U.S. population will make it easy for the company to serve the tri-state and Tennessee.”
Lee Crume, CEO of BE NKY Growth Partnership, expressed his excitement for the project: “I’m thrilled Bakery Express is opening its first Midwest location in Boone County, creating nearly 200 new jobs for our region’s families. This new facility will serve four states, and I look forward to purchasing the company’s fresh-baked goods at a Wawa convenience store.”
Bakery Express Midwest’s investment and job creation build on the best four-year period for economic growth in state history.
Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,000 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling over $29.3 billion in announced investments, creating more than 51,700 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history.
The robust job creation has been accompanied by rising wages across the commonwealth. The average incentivized hourly wage in 2022 and 2023 topped $26 in consecutive years for the first time.
Gov. Beshear has announced some of the largest economic development projects in state history, which have solidified Kentucky as the electric vehicle battery production capital of the United States: Ford Motor Co. and SK On’s transformative $5.8 billion, 5,000-job BlueOval SK Battery Park in Hardin County; AESC’s $2 billion, 2,000-job gigafactory project in Warren County; Toyota’s $591 million investment in Scott County; and INFAC North America’s $53 million investment in Taylor County, among others.
The Governor’s administration also secured the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund, as well as the most jobs filled in state history. Last year, Kentucky set the record for the longest period with the lowest unemployment rates in state history.
Kentucky also secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings, and Moody’s Investors Service upgraded Kentucky’s credit outlook from stable to positive.
Site Selection magazine placed Kentucky first in the South Central region and top 5 nationally in its 2023 Prosperity Cup ranking, which recognizes state-level economic development agencies for their success in landing capital investment projects.
Gov. Beshear has also announced a “Supply Kentucky” initiative with the goal of boosting job growth, reducing costs and providing more security in the supply chains of our Kentucky companies.
To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in June 2023 preliminarily approved an incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide tax incentives based on the company’s investment and annual job and wage targets.
A detailed community profile for Boone County can be viewed here.
Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at CED.ky.gov. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion at facebook.com/CEDkygov, on Twitter @CEDkygov, Instagram @CEDkygov and LinkedIn.
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