One of the Lehigh Valley’s most-storied food manufacturers is positioning itself to grow with the lease of a new facility.
Bazzini, which produces nut, fruit, and chocolate confections and is the oldest nut company in the United States, has leased the former Stuffed Puffs factory in Hanover Township, Northampton County, according to building owner J.G. Petrucci Co., Inc. 
Bazzini was founded in New York City in 1886 and has provided peanuts to Yankee Stadium since 1923. It moved its headquarters and main manufacturing operations to the Lehigh Valley in 2011, in Upper Macungie Township.
The former Stuffed Puffs facility is 150,000 square-feet and “showcases state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities, reinforcing Bazzini's unwavering commitment to quality and innovation,” J.G. Petrucci Co., Inc. said in a news release.
“This new facility is set to drive the company's continued growth while bolstering the vibrant industrial and manufacturing community of the Lehigh Valley,” according to the release.
Lehigh Valley is a top 15% manufacturing market, with more than 700 producers generating a collective output of $9 billion. Manufacturing makes up 16% of the region’s record $55.7 billion Gross Domestic Product. Nationally, manufacturing makes up 12% of GDP.
Food and beverage manufacturing in the Lehigh Valley is one of the sectors targeted for growth by LVEDC. In the past decade, the number of people working in food and beverage production has grown by 45.5% in the region, compared to 33.6% nationally.
Among the nearly 90 food and beverage manufacturers operating in the Lehigh Valley are well-known brands such as Ocean Spray, Coca-Cola, Just Born, Bakerly/Norac, Bimbo Bakeries, Boston Beer Co., and Freshpet.
Access to agricultural areas, abundance of fresh water and natural resources, and proximity to major East Coast population centers have long made Lehigh Valley an ideal location for food and beverage companies. The region’s expanding cold storage facilities are an asset for last-mile distribution.
In addition to its renowned nut products, Bazzini produces a variety of chocolate, crunches, and better-for-you bars for customers nationwide, offering a broad range of capabilities within the manufacturing industry.
"We are thrilled to welcome Bazzini to this premier facility," said Joe Petrucci, Project Executive at J.G. Petrucci Co., Inc. "Their choice to expand here underscores the value of the property and the strength of the Lehigh Valley as a hub for manufacturing and distribution."
(Photo courtesy of J.G. Petrucci Co., Inc.)