MADISON, WIS. — Snyder’s-Lance, Inc. has unveiled plans to expand its Baptista’s Bakery L.L.C. facility in Franklin, Wis. The $7.8 million expansion will include building renovations, as well as machinery and equipment upgrades, and will create 125 additional jobs, according to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC).
The WEDC is supporting the project by authorizing up to $300,000 in state income tax credits over the next three years.
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| Mark R. Hogan, secretary and c.e.o. of the WEDC |
“The company has experienced tremendous growth over the last five years and has already doubled employment at its Franklin facility,” said Mark R. Hogan, secretary and chief executive officer of the WEDC, the state’s lead economic development corporation. “Baptista’s has already invested more than $100 million in its facility, and we are pleased to assist the company in the next phase of its growth.”
Baptista’s Bakery was established following the sale of Gardetto’s Bakery to General Mills, Inc. in August 1999. Gardetto’s had two facilities when it was sold, one in Milwaukee and the Franklin facility, which is a 135,000-square-foot plant built in 1997 on 26 acres of land. Ms. Gardetto named the company after her grandfather, Baptiste Gardetto, and her father, John Baptiste Gardetto.
Baptista’s manufactures sheeted and extruded snack products. According to the company, the products are baked, low-in-oil, salty or sweet snacks made primarily from potatoes, corn, rice, oats or wheat. Snyder’s-Lance acquired Baptista’s in 2014.
