From olive oil to pet food, coffee to candy, and new dairy products, Lehigh Valley’s food and beverage sector has grown in 2026 with new operations and expansions totaling more than $1.2 billion in investment and nearly 2 million square feet of space, creating about 875 new jobs.
Many of those companies have cited the same reasons for producing in the Lehigh Valley – it’s a prime location with a talented workforce and a deep manufacturing heritage.
Lehigh Valley’s strength as a hub for food and beverage production is increasing. Since 2010, the number of food and beverage production establishments has grown by nearly 90% and now numbers 127.
Over that time, employment in food and beverage production has grown more than three times as fast as the U.S. rate. Jobs in that industry are now 60% more concentrated in the Lehigh Valley than nationally, up from 30% in 2020.
Here’s a look at some of the companies driving that growth.
The global producer of yogurt and other dairy products announced in September that it would purchase the Keurig Dr Pepper factory in Upper Macungie Township and convert it to a dairy product manufacturing center that will include the innovation of new products including shelf-stable milk. It will be the largest agricultural investment in Pennsylvania history, increasing demand for milk from the state’s dairy farms by 30%.
Investment: $1.2B
SF: 1.5M
New Jobs: 600 (will also retain 300 from Keurig Dr Pepper)
"When I first walked through this factory, I knew there was something special here. The facility, the equipment, the scale, but most importantly, the people. There's already an incredibly talented team here that knows how to make great food. The foundation is strong. And we have an opportunity to build something extraordinary on top of it." - Hamdi Ulukaya, CEO and Founder, Chobani
The producer of fresh, minimally processed meals and treats for dogs and cats announced in August that it plans to open its first dedicated cold storage facility soon in Bethlehem, allowing for efficient distribution of its temperature-sensitive, refrigerated pet food products. The location is near Freshpet’s production facilities in the Lehigh Valley.
SF: 216,000
New Jobs: 70
"This new distribution center is an important step forward as we continue to grow alongside the families who count on us. Located just minutes from our Bethlehem Kitchen, it gives us greater control over our operations and the scalability we need to keep pace with our growth, while positioning us to support Freshpet for years to come." - Nicki Baty, Chief Operating Officer, Freshpet
Global beverage and flavorings producer Kerry held a ribbon-cutting in September for its new coffee extraction facility in Hanover Township, Northampton County. The Lehigh Valley operation is dedicated to developing natural coffee taste and flavor profiles using advanced extraction and concentration technologies.
SF: 48,600
New Jobs: 60
“This place is designed to be a platform for innovation, a place where customer ambition, consumer insight, and technical capability converge.” - Will Kelly, Head of Beverage Flavors, Kerry North America
The Turkish producer of gummy, licorice, and marshmallow candies, which located its U.S. headquarters in the Lehigh Valley in 2011, opened a new facility in Lower Nazareth and Bethlehem townships that consolidates packaging and distribution operations and is projected to grow to add manufacturing.
Investment: $20M
SF: 90,000
New Jobs: 40 (growing to a total of 50)
“This location made perfect sense, both proximity to the ports and the workforce. We saw a big opportunity. All this made the Lehigh Valley a great location to make this investment.” - Gokhan Kacmaz, Chief Financial Officer, Kervan USA
Based in Bethlehem since 2015, the company announced in early November that it would be expanding into a new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility for olive oil, vinegar, and other specialty foods. The expansion also will strengthen the Lehigh Valley’s role in an international supply chain, connecting olive oil producers of Spain and Portugal with customers in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
SF: 50,000
New Jobs: 10-15 (growing workforce to about 37)
“Our new facility will give us the space and infrastructure to expand our manufacturing and distribution capabilities, strengthen our relationships with domestic and international supply partners, and better serve our customers throughout North America.” - Tim Balshi, CEO and President, Millpress Imports
Four years after opening a dog food production facility in Upper Macungie, Spot & Tango announced in June that it will be expanding over the next few years to meet growing demand for its fresh, human-grade products. The expansion will double production capacity.
Investment: $20M
SF: 20,000
New Jobs: 50 (growing workforce to about 150)
“We've had such a great experience here. We have a really strong team, relatively low turnover. It's really convenient for our headquarters. What's great is we can have our team in New York visit our team in Allentown and vice versa on a regular basis, and that allows us to build culture. We love the area.” - Dylan Munro, Chief Operating Officer, Spot & Tango
The growth in food and beverage production is attracting businesses that serve that sector, too. FlexXray, a food safety company that works with food manufacturers to identify and remove potential foreign material contaminants from products before they reach consumers, relocated its East Coast location to Upper Macungie in July.
SF: 26,000
New Jobs: 40
"It's just easy for people to get here. The goal of all our facilities is to be within a one-day drive of food manufacturing in a geographical region, so that way they can get a truck to us in one day and get it turned around and they can get it back." - Kurt Westmoreland, Chief Commercial Officer, FlexXray
(Photos by LVEDC, Commonwealth Media Services, FlexXray, Spot & Tango)