Will build new headquarters and expand manufacturing on 77 acre site
Gary – Indiana Sugars will be moving from its home at 911 Virginia to Buffington Harbor, its President John Yonover said in a press release this week announcing the purchase of the old Majestic Star Casino property on Gary’s lakefront.
Indiana Sugars acquisition of 55 acres and an additional 22 acres surrounding the casino from Transport Properties, Yonover said, provides space for the company to build its next generation headquarters and facilities. Completion of the multi-phased development plan is expected to be fully executed within the next ten years.
“This is a true win/win opportunity in that we can build a state-of-the-art facility a mere eight miles from our current Indiana location and allows us to have all our current employees transition to the new facilities over time. As we enter our next 100 years, this move strongly positions Indiana Sugars for the future, and to grow within Indiana makes it that much sweeter,” Yonover said in the statement.
The 101-year-old company started as a grocery store in 1923 operated by Russian immigrants, growing into a wholesale food supplier. The business is still family owned.
The new site is served by two class one railroads and is adjacent to Buffington Harbor’s deep-water port. Indiana Sugars will own the majority stake of land that surrounds the port.
Construction of Phase 1 of the new plant will begin in the second quarter of 2024 and will be fully operational by early 2025. The new company headquarters building, also part of Phase 1, will break ground in the coming months and will be completed in 2025. Phases 2 & 3 of expansion will house additional manufacturing and warehouse facilities.
“There is no better place than Gary for Indiana Sugars to grow and expand their historic business. This move was a top priority for my administration’s first 100 days in office,” said Gary Mayor Eddie Melton. “I believe this project is proof that Buffington Harbor and the adjacent footprint will provide Indiana Sugars and future businesses the opportunity to maximize their operations due to Gary’s unique transportation infrastructure.”
“It was the engaging and thoughtful efforts of Mayor Eddie Melton and his team that has made sure that Indiana Sugars remains a Gary-based firm,” added Yonover. “Mayor Melton and his team were passionate about our project and transparent that they didn’t want us to leave. They worked tirelessly with us to make a long-term arrangement that worked for both us and the City of Gary.”
Gary serves as its headquarters and back office. The company has operating businesses in Illinois, Missouri, Massachusetts, New York, and California.
Story Posted:03/04/2024
