Sara Lee Growing Virginia Plant for New $93 Mil Coffee Line

SUFFOLK, VA-Sara Lee Coffee & Tea Co., a subsidiary of Chicago-based Sara Lee Corp., has started site work on a 152,000-sf plant expansion to accommodate equipment for a new $93 million concentrated liquid coffee production line. The expansion is projected to bring 100 new jobs to the area.

The product will be the first of its kind in the United States, according to Houston-based Industrial Information Resources Inc., which tracks daily development plans of major manufacturers and distributors.

The frozen liquid concentrate coffee stays hot up to 21 hours at room temperature after brewed, the Texas researcher reports. Sara Lee already produces the product at its plant in The Netherlands. The company’s target markets are hotel chains and commercial restaurants.