Frozen Food Manufacturer Expands to Henry County

ATLANTA—Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that De Wafelbakkers, a manufacturer of frozen pancakes, waffles and French toast, will locate a food processing operation in McDonough. The project will result in the creation of 242 jobs and a $27.5 million investment within the first three years of operation.

“The food processing sector in Georgia is a significant force for the state’s economy,” said Governor Perdue. “De Wafelbakkers’ decision to locate in Henry County is a great win for Georgia’s pro-business environment and for the McDonough community.”

De Wafelbakkers manufactures frozen pancakes, waffles, French toast, and shelf-stable waffles, which are distributed throughout the United States, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The company’s Henry County food processing operation will locate in a 92,000-square-foot facility already outfitted for food manufacturing and frozen baking. This facility will be the company’s second manufacturing facility in the United States.

“De Wafelbakkers is excited to expand into Georgia. As we have continued to grow our business we needed a second facility to better service our customers,” said Dumas Garrett, De Wafelbakkers President & CEO. “Having the State of Georgia’s and Henry County’s support on this project was an important part of our decision to locate this facility in McDonough. In addition to Georgia’s progressive business climate, the availability of an existing McDonough facility already outfitted for food processing served as a logistical advantage among competing sites for our expansion in the Southeast.”

In addition to an available food processing facility, Henry County offers strategic logistical advantages that set it apart from competing sites, including the county’s close proximity to cargo shipping operations at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

“De Wafelbakkers’ decision to locate its newest food manufacturing plant in Henry County is certainly welcome news, particularly given our recent economic challenges,” said Henry County Commission Chair Elizabeth “BJ” Mathis. “We pride ourselves on being a progressive, business-friendly community, and we certainly look forward to helping De Wafelbakkers to continue to grow and prosper in Henry County.”

“We are delighted to add our welcome to De Wafelbakkers” said Jim White, chairman of the Henry County Development Authority. “The company’s investment and substantial job creation of more than 240 new jobs over the next three years is what economic development is all about, and we are proud to have been part of the team working to win this project for Henry County and for Georgia.”

The De Wafelbakkers McDonough food processing facility will leverage a well-trained workforce through collaboration with Georgia’s nationally recognized Quick Start Training Program.  This program provides strategic and industry-specific workforce training solutions free of charge to qualified new, expanding and existing companies doing business in Georgia.

Tom Croteau managed this expansion project for the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

About De Wafelbakkers

De Wafelbakkers, LLC. (“De Wafelbakkers” or the “Company”), based in Arkansas, is a leading producer of frozen pancakes, mini-pancakes, waffles, waffle sticks, French toast and shelf stable waffles.  Founded in 1986, the Company has developed a reputation for superior product quality that tastes like it was made at home.  The Company manufactures for the De Wafelbakkers brand, co packs for several national and regional customers and supplies the military and school breakfast programs.  Today, De Wafelbakkers maintains strong relationships with leading retailers such as Wal-Mart, Kroger, Food Lion, HEB, Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, Ingle’s and The Fresh Market.  For more information, visit www.dewafelbakkers.com <http://www.dewafelbakkers.com/> .

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