Grillo’s Pickles breaks ground on $54 million production facility in southern Indiana

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A $54 million manufacturing operation plans to be built in southern Indiana.

Grillo's Pickles broke ground a new production facility by Interstate 65 in Bartholomew County near Columbus. It will be a 155,000 square foot facility that will be adjacent to a previously announced $175 million King's Hawaiian bakery operation, according to a news release.

"When we purchased the Bartholomew County site, we did so with thoughts about building it out in phases," Joe Leonardo, Vice President of Strategic Operations for Irresistible Foods Group (IFG) and Chief Operating Officer of King's Hawaiian, said in a news release. "Today's announcement for Grillo's Pickles confirms our strategy."

Grillo's Pickles will employ up to 150 people at the facility.

"Our pickles use a century-old family recipe and contain no artificial preservatives, Grillo's Pickles are packed, shipped, and sold refrigerated," Adam Kaufman, president and CEO of Boston-based Grillo's Pickles, said in a news release. "For our new production site, it was important to us to find a central U.S. location with a skilled workforce and supportive business environment, and we are very excited to be in Bartholomew County, Indiana."

Bartholomew County officials pledged up to $3,746,000 to pay for off-site water, sewer and road improvement upgrades to serve the project site and surrounding area in Nov. 2023. According to a news release, last summer, county officials approved the company's request for an additional 10-year property tax phase-in on the new Grillo's Pickles building and equipment.

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