Lipton to expand Virginia plant with $96 million investment
Unilever, the parent company of Lipton Tea, unveiled plans to invest $96 million in upgrading its manufacturing operations in Suffolk, VA. The facility, which was set up 58 years ago and currently employs 300 people, produces the majority of Lipton's teabags sold in North America. The five-year investment program will focus on facility upgrades and new production machinery. Virginia had fought to have the project retained at Suffolk, competing with Kentucky, North Carolina and South Carolina. A $1 million performance-based grant from the Virginia Investment Program was approved by the state. Lipton's Suffolk factory is the largest tea production plant in the US.