CJ Foodville will invest $47 million in Hall County
Pat Wilson
File Photo: Carlton FletcherFrom staff reports
ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp announced Tuesday that CJ Foodville Corp., a subsidiary of CJ Group, will invest more than $47 million in a new bakery and food processing facility in Gainesville, creating an estimated 285 jobs in Hall County.
“Our top-ranked work force training program remains a crucial tool for our state as we prepare hard-working Georgians for opportunities in a range of sectors, including the food industry,” Kemp said in a news release. “With Georgia’s access to 80% of the U.S. market within a two-day drive, companies like CJ Foodville have a recipe for success. We are excited for CJ Foodville to support its TOUS les JOURS brand from Georgia and partner with the Hall County community to create lasting jobs.”
CJ Foodville is a subsidiary of CJ Group, one of the largest food service and food processing companies in South Korea. CJ Foodville made its first overseas expansion and entered the U.S. market in 2004 with its TOUS les JOURS bakery café brand, which currently has four storefronts in Georgia.
“Based on our strong profitability, we have decided to establish a factory in the U.S. to enhance our production and supply capabilities in response to the expanding scale of the TOUS les JOURS business,” Tony Hunsoo Ahn, CEO of CJ Foodville USA, said. “We are committed to promoting the unique competitiveness of the K-Bakery, which is built upon excellent product quality in a diverse range of bread and cakes. Our ultimate goal is to establish the TOUS les JOURS brand as a globally cherished bakery brand that transcends borders and captivates palates worldwide.”
The new facility, located at the Gainesville Business Park northeast of Atlanta, is expected to be completed in 2025. At full capacity, it will produce more than 19,000 tons of products per year. CJ Foodville will hire for positions in procurement, production, logistics, quality control, utility, HR/accounting, and supply chain management-related positions. Learn more about the company at www.cjfoodville.co.kr.
“We are excited to have another globally branded food company call the Gainesville-Hall County Metro home,” Gainesville Mayor Sam Couvillon said. “Gainesville has been setting the table for CJ Foodville to be a part of our business community through investments to expand Gainesville’s robust infrastructure network to the new Gainesville Business Park.”
“CJ Foodville will be a welcome part of Gainesville-Hall County’s business community of 330 global manufacturers and processers,” Tim Evans, Vice President of Economic Development for the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, said. “Gainesville-Hall County offers a competitive advantage for food and pharmaceutical businesses by connecting them to world-class talent, industry specific training at Lanier Technical College, a network of cold-chain logistics providers, and global markets through Georgia Port Authority’s new Inland Port Terminal, expected to open in 2026.”
Director of Korean Investment Yoonie Kim represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Global Commerce team on this competitive project in partnership with the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, Georgia EMC and Georgia Quick Start.
“Georgia’s economy is exceptionally diverse, and it’s a critical factor in allowing us to weather economic changes,” GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson said. “CJ Foodville’s investment is a great example of both the diversity of our economy and the investments coming from our international partners. Connectivity creates opportunity, and Georgia’s decadeslong relationship with South Korea has built a diverse economic and cultural exchange reflected across the state. Congratulations to CJ Foodville and our friends in Gainesville-Hall County.”
Half of the country’s top 100 food processing companies operate in Georgia. Locations of new and expanding food processing companies ranked among the greatest number of new industrial projects during Fiscal Year 2022 and resulted in more than $923 million in investment in Fiscal Year 2023. Complementing this growth, Georgia offers 178 million square feet of cold storage space, and logistics and infrastructure stemming from Georgia’s already central location in the southeastern U.S. allow companies to quickly and efficiently move products in and out of the state.
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