Pasta company to establish location in Merrillville

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Pennsylvania-based Quality Pasta Co. LLC says it will invest more than $13 million to establish a production facility in Merrillville. The company, which produces pasta dinners and side dishes, says the project will also create up to 70 jobs by the end of 2024.

The Merrillville plant will be the company’s second production facility in the U.S. Quality Pasta says the expansion will allow it to increase capacity, add new customers, and “continue to bring innovation to the retail and consumer package goods market.”

“We are proud to embark on this expansion to bring new capacity to the market and especially proud to do this after more than a year operating in a pandemic,” Paul DeStefano, president of Quality Pasta, said in a news release. “The demand for our products and services remains strong, and we will continue to meet the needs of our customers with the highest quality, most innovative products available. The new plant and team in Merrillville will be a great compliment to our Charleroi, Pennsylvania, facility and team to help deliver more great products to the market.”

The company is using the investment to lease and upgrade a nearly 90,000-square-foot facility in Merrillville. The location is expected to be fully operational this fall.

Quality Pasta plans to begin hiring this month for a variety of positions, including mechanical, operations, quality, warehouse, and office administration. The company plans to employ up to 50 workers within the first year.

The Indiana Economic Development Corp. has offered Quality Pasta up to $525,000 in conditional tax credits, which the company will not be eligible to claim until Hoosier workers are hired for the new jobs. Additional incentives have been approved by the town of Merrillville.