Canadian bread producer invests in the U.S.

Toronto – A local producer is taking its brand of artisan and European-style breads to South Carolina.

ACE Bakery Inc., which was started in 1993 by two foodies, is planning to invest at least US$17 million in a town called Gaffney and create about 50 new jobs.

The Cherokee County Council in South Carolina passed final reading on Monday on incentives for ACE Bakery, reports GoUpstate.com.

The incentives include an ordinance to extend a six per cent fee on the capital investment in lieu of taxes for ACE Bakery, which plans to up-fit a facility that once belonged to another company.

GoUpstate.com also reports that the closing on the property is expected later this month or early August, but it’s not known whether ACE will lease or purchase the property or when ACE would begin production.

ACE will work with the state on job incentives.

U.S. demand strong

On its website, ACE Bakery posted a message thanking its U.S. foodservice and retail clients as demand for the company’s products in the U.S. continues to grow.

“The time is right to start baking closer to our U.S. clients and our first U.S. bakery is scheduled to open in the Southeast this fall,” says the company.

The company adds the new bakery will have best-in-class European equipment, traditional artisan baking methods, state-of-the-art baking facilities, and a broad selection of the company’s top-selling baguettes, breads and rolls.

ACE Bakery began at a small bakery café, using natural starters, letting the dough rise slowly, making small batches of hand-formed artisan breads and baking in a stone-deck oven. Today the breads are still made the same way, with no preservatives and only simple ingredients.