De Soto, Kan., packaging company plans 300-job expansion in Arizona

De Soto, Kan.-based Huhtamaki North America on Tuesday announced a $100 million expansion in Arizona that will add about 300 jobs over the next two years.

The food service packaging company plans to open a manufacturing and distribution center in a 750,000-square-foot facility in Goodyear, Ariz., just west of Phoenix. The expansion will allow Huhtamaki to better serve Southern California and other key markets on the West Coast.

Huhtamaki said its investment includes building modifications and equipment installations. It said it expects to begin using the facility in the second quarter of 2017, with production scheduled to begin later in the year.

The facility, which was purchased from Cohen Asset Management Inc., will produce paper cups, insulated hot cups, food containers, pressed paperboard plates and thermoformed plastic cups and lids.

“This is a further investment in our strategy to serve the food service packaging and retail tableware markets with core products,” said Clay Dunn, Huhtamaki North America’s executive vice president.

Huhtamaki has about 425 employees in De Soto, home to its North America corporate office and a factory operation. The North America unit has about 3,600 employees in 17 facilities. The parent company, Huhtamaki Oyj, is headquartered in Finland.

This story was originally published September 20, 2016 at 5:03 PM with the headline "De Soto, Kan., packaging company plans 300-job expansion in Arizona."