News

Brewery supplier opening plant in Buncombe

By Bill Moss, Published: January 9, 2015

A leading brewery supplier will invest $8.1 million in a new facility that will add 56 new jobs in Buncombe County, Gov. Pat McCrory, state Commerce Secretary John Skvarla and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina announced on Friday.

San Diego-based White Labs Inc., founded in 1995, supplies breweries, wineries and distilleries with fresh yeast and related products, including analytical services.

"White Labs is a leader in one of the fastest-growing industries in the country," Gov. McCrory said. "By locating its East Coast operations in Buncombe County, it is establishing North Carolina as a key location for other companies related to the craft beer and wine industries."

The Buncombe County operation, the lab's first on the East Coast, will manufacture yeast for alcoholic beverage production, conduct sales and marketing, beer production, on-premise beer sales, classes and retail sales. In addition to San Diego, White Labs has operations in Davis, Calif., and Boulder, Colo.

"Buncombe County is becoming known around the country for its craft beer industry," Skvarla said. "North Carolina boasts the largest number of craft breweries in the South, with more than 100 breweries and brewpubs. It says a lot about the growth of the industry here that White Labs chose this part of North Carolina for its first East Coast operation."

Salaries will vary by job but will include microbiologists, analytical services and brewing. The average annual salary will be $35,818. The average annual wage for Buncombe County is $35,784.

"At White Labs we are excited about being closer to our customer base in North Carolina and the East Coast, and having the opportunity to expand production to meet our industry's growing needs," Chris White, president and CEO of White Labs, said in a statement. "We expect this facility to be our anchor for production needs east of the Mississippi and places beyond including Europe. The decision of where to locate our facility was difficult, and we made this decision based on the people we worked with, the city of Asheville, the great breweries in the area, and the quality of life we have witnessed."

"Craft breweries have become a meaningful part of the tourism industry in Buncombe County," said Sen. Terry Van Duyn. "This announcement by White Labs will enhance what has become a growing business sector in our region."

"These new jobs and this new facility are perfectly suited for Buncombe County," added Sen. Tom Apodaca. "White Labs is an industry leader, and they will find that coming to this part of North Carolina is an excellent decision."

The White Labs announcement marked at least the second time a major brewery supplier had moved to a town that has three times been voted Beer City USA and is the center craft brewing in North Carolina. The Country Malt Group, a distribution company that serves brewery and distilleries, moved to the Cane Creek Industrial Park last fall.