MONTGOMERY, Ala — A Kentucky-based beverage firm has chosen a Montgomery site served by CSX Transportation for a new 180-acre, $600 million production and distribution facility for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
The facility owned by the minority-owned Manna Capital Partners affiliate Manna Beverages & Ventures is expected to begin operations in early 2025. CSX assisted in Manna’s selection of the site, in cooperation with local business officials and a site-search firm.
“CSX congratulates Manna Beverages & Ventures on its business growth and its decision to locate its new facility on a CSX Select Site,” Arthur Adams, CSX senior vice president of Sales and Marketing, said in a press release. “We’re looking forward to serving as Manna’s supply chain partner at the Wasden Road Industrial Site, which is ideally situated to capture the advantages of reliable, cost-effective and carbon-friendly rail transportation.”
The company’s “beverage park” will include a 1.7 million-square-foot production facility and is projected to create 280 full-time jobs, according to an announcement from Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey.
“Our goal is to be the leading total beverage supply chain company in North America while operating with the highest quality, sustainable capabilities needed to produce beverages for world-class brand owners,” said Ulysses L. “Junior” Bridgeman, managing partner at Manna Capital.
Seems foolish to me. There are 2 short lines available – Autauga Northern and Meridian & Bigbee. Both will clearly wallop CSX in service. I have to wonder what CSX offered. It certainly isn’t good service.
Manna Capital Partners will operate the plant through a subsidiary, Manna Beverages & Ventures, which it created to be a supply chain partner for national and regional brands, with a focus on startups. The contract packing company handles outsourced production, packaging and warehousing.
The Montgomery facility will also include a research and development center with a bottling line that will provide entrepreneurs, with a focus on women-owned and minority businesses, a place to test new products.
Wonder if Manna had the foresight to require CSX to commit to daily switches?
Congratulations Montgomery, Alabama.
Build Back Better in the good ol’ USA