Alabama-based Southern Visions, makers of Sweet Brew tea and lemonade, have broken ground on a new 125,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Bay Minette.
The company’s new Baldwin County facility will house its tea and sugar production operations and is expected to create 66 jobs and generate more than $24 million in capital investment in the area over the next three years, according to Area Development.
“I am very proud of our employees and our company, as well as what we have been able to achieve to be here today,” Paul Stewart, Owner of Southern Visions, said. “I want to thank the people and leaders of Bay Minette and Baldwin County for the overwhelming welcome we have received. All parties involved have been an absolute pleasure to get to know and do business with, and we look forward to a great future here in Bay Minette.”
Southern Visions is headquartered in Loxley. The company is a leading innovator for fresh-brewed beverage products in the food service industry. Founded in 2003, this family-owned and operated business services some of the nation’s largest food service distributors.
According to company officials, this new facility will further position Southern Visions for sustained growth in the industry, providing much-needed rail service vital to the growth of their granulated sugar operations. It will be located along the east side of Highway 31 in Bay Minette.
“The City of Bay Minette is very excited to have Southern Visions, LLP, coming to our community,” Bay Minette Mayor Bob Wills outlined.
The mayor continued, “They are on the cutting edge of their industry and have experienced tremendous growth over the past few years. Their future is very bright, and we are glad that they see their new, expanding manufacturing facility here in Bay Minette as an integral part of their future success. These are exciting times for Bay Minette, and we look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with Southern Visions, LLP.”
The company holds several patents for the Sweet Brew pouch, which has proven to be one of the biggest innovations for sweet tea since the introduction of the commercial tea brewer in 1978. With a growing client base scattered throughout the United States, Southern Visions’ explained its network of distribution partners has seen an average year over year increase of over 300 percent.
Lee Lawson, president and CEO of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, added that this is another great example of an innovative company choosing to keep their future growth and development in Baldwin County. For three consecutive years, SmartAsset has ranked Baldwin County first in the state of Alabama for incoming business investment, plus the county has seen over 14,000 net new jobs created since 2010.
“Baldwin County is proud to be home to innovative and creative companies, like Southern Visions,” Skip Gruber, chairman of the Baldwin County Commission, commented. “As businesses thrive and grow, they are always seeking the best new location for their investment. Baldwin County’s continued local support for our business community, paired with consistent economic and population growth, has resulted in companies like Southern Visions choosing to keep their future, right here at home, in Baldwin County.”
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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