Food Processing

New and existing companies find Georgia a great place to do business

One of the best measures of an industry’s success in a region is the ability to attract and retain businesses belonging to that industry. Between 2019 and 2024, more than 38 food processing businesses either expanded or moved new operations to Georgia, creating 8,530 new jobs.

Innovator in Fresh Meal Delivery Moves Operations to Montezuma

“Montezuma is an excellent location for us to strategically reach the entire U.S., especially the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. We are proud to be expanding our operations in Georgia, a state with great fiscal strength and a clear dedication to businesses and communities.”

Snow Le, President, FreshRealm

Source: “Gov Kemp: FreshRealm, Innovator in National Fresh Meals, Moves Operations to Montezuma,” Georgia.gov, 8.20.2024

Japanese Probiotic Beverage Production Facility Chooses Bartow

“The State of Georgia meets our business needs in terms of the climate for our production, the logistics for the product distribution, and the positive support from the state and the county.”

Yutaka Misumi, President & CEO, Yakult U.S.A.

Source: “Yakult Chooses Bartow County for Second US Production Facility,” Georgia Department of Economic Development, 7.18.2023

Georgia's Food Processors and Distributors

The map to the right includes food processing operations and food distribution locations with 50 or more employees.

Georgia's food processing ecosystem is well established, with a thriving agricultural industry, diverse blend of manufacturers who take advantage of abundant, local raw materials, a strong system of distributors, and a transportation infrastructure second to none.

Georgia’s competitive business climate is ideal for manufacturers.

Competitive wage rates, an abundance of skilled workers and a business-friendly environment make Georgia an ideal place for manufacturing. Georgia’s wages for manufacturing occupations related to food processing are typically lower than those of the U.S. overall. Georgia is highly competitive within the Southeast as well, with an advantage over surrounding states based on the concentration of food processing workers and low wages. Additionally, Georgia’s employment-at-will, right-to-work status, and low unionization rates help the state’s food processing operations remain at the forefront of increasingly global markets.

• A unionization rate of 5.1% compared to 11.4% nationally (% covered employees)
• The largest number of food and beverage processing jobs in the Southeast (25% of industry workers)
• A low state corporate tax rate of 5.39%

Talent Critical to Food Processing

Based on staffing patterns for food and beverage processing industries, Georgia has an abundance of workers employed in critical occupations. The graphs to the right illustrate the character of Georgia's food and beverage processing talent. Major occupations include:

• Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
• Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
• First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
• Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
• Helpers--Production Workers
• Slaughterers and Meat Packers
• Bakers
• Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders