CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Snyder's-Lance Inc. said that it is building a research and development center in Hanover, Pa. The center, located near one of the company's largest bakeries, will research, develop and enhance new and existing products across the company's entire line of consumer preferred snack foods, including Snyder's of Hanover Pretzels, Lance Sandwich Crackers and Cape Cod Potato Chips.
Detailed product and quality comparisons, sensory evaluation and a full microbiology lab are some of the primary services to be provided in this new facility.
The 60.000-square-foot, three-story building was designed from the ground up to be environmentally friendly. The building itself will carry a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification, meeting strict requirements of the LEED rating system for the construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. Additionally, the new center will receive 100% of its electricity from the company's 26-acre solar panel farm located nearby.
"Our solar field provides roughly 30% of the electricity used by the Hanover manufacturing facility and will now supply 100% of the electricity for our new research and development center," said Carl E. Lee Jr., president and COO. "Snyder's-Lance is a company that is committed to being a great partner to the community and to delivering the highest-quality snack foods to consumers and our retail customers."
Jim Butt, senior vice president of R&D and quality added, "This new center will allow us to build on our already great reputation for quality and innovation across our entire product portfolio, and I look forward to the new and innovative product platforms we'll be able to develop there."
The project is expected to be completed in fourth-quarter 2012. There are no immediate plans to add new employees as a result of this effort, though final details of specific operations and staffing are still being finalized.
Snyder's-Lance, Charlotte, N.C., manufactures, markets and distributes snack foods throughout the United States and internationally. Its products include pretzels, sandwich crackers, potato chips, cookies, tortilla chips, restaurant style crackers, nuts and other snacks. The company has manufacturing facilities in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Indiana, Georgia, Arizona, Massachusetts, Florida, Ohio and Ontario. Products are sold under brand names including Snyder's of Hanover, Lance, Cape Cod, Tom's, Jays, Krunchers!, Grande, Archway, O-Ke-Doke, and Stella D'oro along with a number of private-label and third-party brands. Products are distributed widely through grocery and mass merchandisers, convenience stores, club stores, foodservice outlets and other channels.
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