BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY, Ind. — King’s Hawaiian, renowned for its delectable rolls, is set to commence production in Indiana by 2026. The Irresistible Foods Group, the parent company of King’s Hawaiian, has announced plans to construct a 300,000-square-foot bakery in Bartholomew County, with operations expected to commence in late 2026 or early 2027.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) Chief Strategy Officer, Ann Lanthrop, expressed a warm welcome, stating, “We are very pleased to extend a warm welcome to King’s Hawaiian and celebrate their decision to establish roots in Indiana. The company’s new facility will not only create high-quality jobs and competitive wages but also bring prosperity and robust growth into the community, benefitting Hoosiers for decades to come.”
The facility is projected to employ 150 individuals, offering an average hourly wage of $29.94. King’s Hawaiian will invest up to $180 million in the construction and equipping of the facility, which will be situated at the southeast corner of Exit 76 on I-65 near Indiana Premium Outlets of Edinburgh. The 88-acre site holds the potential for future growth, enabling other Irresistible Foods Group brands like Grillo’s Pickles, Shaka Tea, and Innovation Bakers to produce their goods in Bartholomew County.
“After a thorough, multi-state search, we found the Columbus, Indiana, area to offer us the best solution for our manufacturing and logistics needs,” stated Joe Leonardo, King’s Hawaiian SVP and COO. “More than that, this area feels like home to us. It’s a great community that we are excited to be a part of and work hand-in-hand with all the wonderful things that are happening here.”
The Bartholomew County Council has approved allocating up to $2.7 million from its Rainy Day Fund for offsite water, sewer, and road improvements that the facility may require. County commissioners have pledged an additional $646,000 from county economic development funds.
Incentivizing the project, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation committed up to $1.8 million in incentive-based tax credits, contingent on the hiring of Hoosiers at the facility. Specific details regarding the number of hires required were not disclosed in the press release.
Bartholomew County officials have granted a 10-year phase-in abatement on the business’s real and personal property investment. In an exchange for added infrastructure, Irresistible Foods Group agreed to waive its real property abatement.
Greater Columbus Economic Development Corporation President, Jason Hester, praised the addition of King’s Hawaiian and Irresistible Foods Group to Bartholomew County, stating, “They precisely represent the type of high-paying, community-minded employer we love to work with, and food and beverage manufacturing is one of our top industry targets for a true win-win project.”
Having originated in Hawaii over 70 years ago, King’s Hawaiian expanded its operations to southern California and Georgia. The upcoming Bartholomew County bakery marks the company’s first Midwest-based facility.