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Milo’s Tea Company expanding operations with $53 million investment in Spartanburg County
Spartanburg welcomes Milo’s
Milo’s Tea Company CEO Tricia Wallwork speaks at Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony in Moore, Spartanburg County.
Bob Montgomery, Herald-Journal
Milo’s Tea Company is expanding its operations in Spartanburg County with a $53 million investment, creating 80 new jobs.
“Spartanburg County was incredibly excited to welcome Milo’s Tea here, and we’re even more excited to share the news of their expansion – all before their facility is fully up and running,” said Spartanburg County Council Vice Chairman David Britt in a release.
Operations are expected to begin at the end of November at the 130,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility in Moore.
The new investment announced this week will expand its Spartanburg County operation by installing an additional production line and enhancements to meet increased demand for its brewing, bottling, and distribution operation, according to the release.
“This expansion of Milo’s Tea Company’s Spartanburg County operations represents yet another vote of confidence in South Carolina’s talented workforce,” South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said in a statement. “By creating 80 new jobs in the Upstate, Milo’s Tea is reinforcing its commitment to doing business in South Carolina and strengthening the local economy.”
The Coordinating Council for Economic Development awarded Spartanburg County a $250,000 set-aside grant to assist with building construction costs, according to the release.
Milo’s announced plans to build in 2023
In January 2023, the Bessemer, Alabama beverage company announced plans to invest $130 million to build the production facility which would create 103 jobs in Spartanburg County.
According to a January 2023 Herald-Journal article, the company sought tax breaks from Spartanburg County, which the council approved. The breaks will give Milo’s a reduced property tax rate of 6%; the standard rate is 10.5%.
A groundbreaking was held at the Spartanburg County facility at 6684 U.S. Highway 221 in Moore in March 2023.
In the 2023 article, Milo’s Tea Company CEO Tricia Wallwork explained why Spartanburg County was chosen for its fourth plant in the United States.
“South Carolina was the optimal location to efficiently serve our customers up and down the East Coast,” Wallwork said in the 2023 article. “We immediately felt at home in the Spartanburg area as we received a warm welcome from state and local community partners.”
What to know about Milo’s
According to the January 2023 Herald-Journal, here are some fun facts about Milo’s:
- Milo’s is a family-owned and Certified Women-Owned Business.
- Milo’s is also a certified “zero-waste manufacturer devoted to sustainable practices and the stewardship of local communities and the environment.”
- Milo’s was founded as a restaurant in 1946 in Bessemer, Alabama. The company later expanded to make all-natural teas and lemonades.
- Milo’s sells its products at 40,000 retail locations in all 50 states.
Jose Franco is a Content Editor for the Greenville News, Spartanburg Herald-Journal and Anderson Independent-Mail. He can be reached at jfranco@gannett.com.