Kerry Group, a global beverage company based in Ireland, celebrated the opening of its new coffee extraction facility in the Lehigh Valley, which will increase its production capacity, innovate new products, and position the company close to East Coast consumers. 
The 48,600-square-foot operation, located in Lehigh Valley Industrial Park IV in Hanover Township, Northampton County, employs 52 people. It has the capacity to roast 22 million pounds annually.
Company officials invited state, county, and local leaders, along with customers, to celebrate and tour the operation on Sept. 30.
In addition to the geographic advantage, Kerry selected the Lehigh Valley location in part because the facility was previously home to another beverage manufacturer, Martin Bauer Group. Kerry retained some of Martin Bauer’s workforce and equipment.
The Lehigh Valley operation is dedicated to developing natural coffee taste and flavor profiles using advanced extraction and concentration technologies to create premium coffee solutions tailored to each customer’s formulation, from ready-to-drink coffee beverages to alcoholic drinks, ice cream, and savory sauces.
The facility increases Kerry’s overall coffee extraction capabilities significantly, with independent hot and cold brew extraction lines designed to scale as demand grows.
Kerry Group is committed to meeting the evolving needs of today’s coffee drinkers, who are seeking faster and more flexible options to fit their demanding lifestyles, said Will Kelly, Head of Beverage Flavors for Kerry North America.
“This place is designed to be a platform for innovation, a place where customer ambition, consumer insight, and technical capability converge,” he said.
The Lehigh Valley operation began late last year, with $516,880 in state support, including a Pennsylvania First grant and a WEDnetPA grant for workforce training.
Kerry Group is among the newest companies choosing to manufacture in the Lehigh Valley, which is among the Top 15% of markets nationwide for manufacturing, based on Gross Domestic Product. More than 700 manufacturers collectively generate about $9 billion in output annually. That represents 16% of the Lehigh Valley’s GDP. Nationally, manufacturing is 11% of GDP.
“Coffee now joins the extensive list of goods and products that are made in the Lehigh Valley,” said Don Cunningham, President & CEO of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC). "We welcome the Kerry Group from Ireland to the growing number of companies from around the world that are making products here in America's fastest-growing mid-sized market."
Since 2010, the number of food and beverage production establishments in the Lehigh Valley grew by nearly 90% and now numbers 127. Employment in food and beverage production grew more than three times as fast as the U.S. rate over that time.
Kerry Group joins global and regional brands such as Boston Beer Co., Bakerly/Norac, Coca-Cola, Freshpet, Just Born Quality Confections, Ocean Spray, Nestle Purina, and Spot & Tango. Chobani plans to open a $1.2 billion dairy product manufacturing operation, the largest agricultural investment in Pennsylvania history.
Gerald Angley, Consul General of Ireland in New York, credited Pennsylvania officials including Secretary of Community and Economic Development Rick Siger for being committed to foreign investment and trade. He said Ireland is America’s sixth largest foreign investor.
“This Bethlehem facility is an example of that partnership in action, bringing Irish expertise, American talent, and world-class innovation together to create jobs, advance technology, and support customers across North America,” Angley said. “More than a manufacturing site, it represents the application of food science, company expertise, and innovation to create those high-quality products.”
Kerry Group’s Lehigh Valley facility will use natural, sustainably sourced ingredients aligned with U.S. Department of Agriculture Organic, Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, and Café Femenino standards that support producer communities and environmental stewardship. Beans come from countries including Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Vietnam.
“Every day, our teams work alongside customers to develop food and beverage solutions that are better for people and better for the planet. The Bethlehem facility represents that commitment in action. It strengthens our ability to collaborate better, accelerate innovation, and bring new ideas to market faster than ever before,” said Dan Silva, Vice President of Taste Operations for Kerry North America.
(Photos by LVEDC)