Sweet Street Desserts stands as a global leader in the gourmet dessert industry, renowned for its extensive range of delectable treats enjoyed in over 60 countries. This premier dessert manufacturer, headquartered in Reading, PA, is the trusted supplier for leading food service establishments worldwide, from luxury hotels to popular restaurant chains and high-end supermarkets. Sweet Street’s commitment to innovation and quality has consistently earned them accolades from food service professionals, recognizing them as a top innovator and a leading food service supplier in the United States.
In a significant move to expand its operations, Sweet Street Desserts strategically acquired a vacant bakery facility in Greenville County, South Carolina. This location, previously operated by Sara Lee Corporation until 2009, presented an ideal opportunity for revitalization. Sweet Street undertook a comprehensive renovation of the 120,000 square foot building, transforming it into a cutting-edge manufacturing plant equipped for advanced dessert and pasta production. This project breathed new life into the dormant facility, injecting state-of-the-art machinery and technology to support multiple baking processes.
The closure of the Sara Lee plant had previously resulted in job losses and displacement for approximately 200 employees in the Greenville County area. Sweet Street Desserts’ investment directly addressed this community need by bringing substantial employment opportunities back to the region. Demonstrating their commitment to the local workforce, Sweet Street notably hired the former Sara Lee plant manager to lead the new facility and actively sought to recruit additional experienced Sara Lee employees.
The positive community impact of the Sweet Street Desserts project extends far beyond job creation. The project generated 271 direct jobs, comprising 100 permanent positions and 171 construction roles. Crucially, the permanent jobs offer an average wage significantly higher – 189% – than the local per capita income, representing a substantial boost to the economic well-being of the community. Furthermore, Sweet Street provides comprehensive employee benefits packages, including health and dental insurance, disability and life insurance, profit sharing, 401K plans, and paid vacation time. Recognizing the importance of workforce development, the company also offers employees access to job training and advancement opportunities, including financial assistance for relevant educational courses. In collaboration with ReadySC, a division of the SC Technical College System, Sweet Street provides recruitment assistance and specialized training programs.
To further enhance job accessibility and career progression for local residents, Sweet Street Desserts partnered with Apprenticeship Carolina™ and Greenville Technical College to establish a tuition-free registered apprenticeship program. This program encompasses nine distinct apprenticeship tracks, each certified by the U.S. Department of Labor and integrated within the SC Technical College System. These apprenticeship tracks will be sustained throughout the seven-year project compliance period, ensuring long-term workforce development and skill-building within the community.
Project Snapshot:
TOTAL PROJECT COST: $61,700,000
NMTC ALLOCATION: $10,000,000
FINANCING COMPLETE: May 2015
PROJECT SPONSOR: Sweet Street Desserts, Inc.
CDEs: The Innovate Fund
NMTC INVESTOR: Capital One, N.A.
LEVERAGED LENDER: Sweet Street Desserts, Inc.
ADDRESS: 1916 Piedmont Highway, Greenville, SC
CENSUS TRACT: 45045002003
COMMUNITY OUTCOMES:
- 120,000 SF Facility
- 271 Direct Jobs
- 225 Indirect/Induced Jobs
LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY (LIC) CHARACTERISTICS:
- Poverty Rate: 29.6%
- Median Family Income: 64.2% of Area Median Income
- Unemployment Rate: 19.8%
- Unemployment Ratio: 2.5x the National Average
- ARC Distressed Area
- State/Local Economic Zone
