Acting Governor Kim Guadagno continued to demonstrate her commitment to New Jersey’s manufacturers and distributors with a visit to Arizona Beverages Distribution Facility in Woodbridge on Jan. 21. Arizona received an $18.9 million Grow New Jersey Award to construct a new 559,915-square-foot manufacturing facility adjacent to their current facility to support its expanding operations.
“This new project will create 100 new jobs, which demonstrates why our state’s unemployment rate is down to 5.1 percent today. This improvement is evidence of our commitment to working with businesses like Arizona Iced Tea, and we applaud their continued growth in New Jersey,” said Acting Governor Guadagno. “Companies like Arizona Iced Tea are a great example of our state’s diverse manufacturing and distribution sectors that are continuing to grow and succeed here.”
Arizona Beverage Distribution Facility in Woodbridge is also known as Maplewood Beverage Packers and currently employs 197 people. By creating this new manufacturing facility, there will be 215 retained jobs and approximately 100 new positions created. Maplewood Beverage Packers plans to invest $40 million in capital to support the construction of this new manufacturing facility, which will have a net benefit to the state of $109.8 million over the 15-year commitment period.
“Arizona Beverages prides itself in the time-honored tradition of ‘Made in America,’” said Chief Technical Officer John Posillico. “In concert with the state of New Jersey and Edison and Woodbridge townships, we are proud to embark on the next phase of our expansion. We look forward to taking the path to fortifying economic growth and prosperity blazed by the leadership of the state of New Jersey.”
The existing Arizona Beverages Distribution Facility gained approval in 2009 for its relocation from Maplewood to Edison. Maplewood Beverage Packers is a subsidiary of Arizona Beverage Company of Woodbury, New York, that supplies and produces an assortment of beverages including teas, iced teas, Arnold Palmers, juice blends, tea bags, coffees, powdered drink mixes, sports drinks, flavored waters, and smoothies.
Businesses considering a move or in need of assistance are encouraged to call New Jersey’s Business Action Center at 866-534-7789 or visit the State’s Business Portal at www.newjerseybusiness.gov.