Fermented Food Holdings, Inc. Moving Headquarters to Wisconsin

Friday, November 1st, 2024 -- 1:00 PM

Tailgaters and brat fans of Wisconsin, rejoice!

One of the world’s leading producers of sauerkraut is moving its headquarters to Wisconsin and expanding its manufacturing operations in the state, with help from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).

In a move that will create 60 high-paying jobs, support Wisconsin’s agricultural economy and add a fresh twist to its rich tradition of fermentation, Fermented Food Holdings, Inc. is investing $13 million to expand local production in Bear Creek and relocate its corporate headquarters to Madison.

WEDC is assisting the expansion with $500,000 in performance-based tax credits. The amount of credits the company will receive is contingent on the amount of capital invested and the number of jobs created.

Governor Tony Evers welcomed the company’s decision to base its headquarters in Wisconsin and to continue growing its business in the state. Fermented Food Holdings is one of the world’s largest producers of sauerkraut and fermented foods, shipping its products to all 50 states and internationally.

The company’s primary business is the development, manufacturing and distribution of natural fermented food products like sauerkraut, pickles and kimchi.

Fermented Food Holdings owns brands such as Silver Floss, the best-selling sauerkraut nationwide, and Bubbies, the premier brand of refrigerated pickles in natural foods channel.

The company’s expansion in Bear Creek will add a new fermentation room, cooler and production line that will increase the facility’s capacity by 20 million pounds of cabbage annually, a 20% increase over current production.

Wisconsin is the fourth largest producer of cabbage in the United States, with major farms located in Outagamie, Racine, Kenosha and Waukesha counties.

Being closer to local farms is vital for Fermented Food Holdings, as it allows for direct sourcing and organic, fresh ingredients, something the company was unable to rely on before.

The investment will create 60 full-time jobs, 41 of which will be based in Bear Creek, a small town in northeastern Wisconsin of about 400 residents. The new roles also offer wages well above the state’s hourly average, providing a significant economic boost to the community.

In addition to driving economic growth, the expansion honors the rich history of the facility, which was built over 100 years ago as Flanagan Brothers Pickling Company.

Since then, it has evolved through various acquisitions while remaining a vital part of Bear Creek’s legacy and identity. An additional 19 jobs will be added at the company’s new corporate headquarters in Madison.

Fermented Food Holdings considered other big-city locations for its headquarters including Miami, Denver and Austin, but ultimately chose Madison for its strategic location and bustling food and beverage industry.

According to Azevedo, the headquarters’ proximity to farms is crucial, allowing the company to bolster their relationships with local farmers, ensure efficient production processes and deliver high-quality end products.

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