New $40M Manufacturing Facility will Create 150 Jobs for Kansans

WICHITA – Governor Laura Kelly on Aug 24th, announced that JTM Foods, LLC has chosen Wichita as the new home of JJ’s Snack Pies, a popular treat available at many of the nation’s largest retailers, and has broken ground on a new manufacturing facility in the ict21 Industrial District. JTM Foods plans to hire 150 people within the next two years and invest $40 million in the Wichita facility. 

This announcement comes during the Governor’s statewide tour promoting job creation and economic development, ‘Prosperity on the Plains.’ 

“JTM Foods’ expansion into Wichita is sweet news for Kansans and for treat lovers everywhere. Our state dominates the landscape in food processing, and JTM’s investment highlights the tremendous competitive advantages Kansas offers businesses,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “Our central location, strong infrastructure, and outstanding workforce make our state the best place in the nation to build, hire, and invest.” 

The Wichita facility will provide increased production capacity and improve the logistics for Southern, Southwest, and West Coast markets of the hand-held snack pies. This expansion is JTM Foods’ first outside Pennsylvania. 

“After exploring several options across multiple states and locales,” said Monty Pooley, JTM Foods President and CEO, “the strong public/private partnerships here, linking government, business, academic, and community interests together convinced us that Wichita was the ‘Best Choice’ for JTM’s future expansion.”  

In February 2021, Governor Kelly unveiled a comprehensive economic development strategy for the state, the first of its kind in more than 30 years, called the Kansas Framework for Growth. Two of the five targeted sectors for accelerated growth are advanced manufacturing and food & agriculture. 

“JTM Foods will be a great addition that will help bolster the food processing industry in Wichita and add to our unrivaled strength statewide,” said Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland.  “The Kansas Framework for Growth places a heavy emphasis on growing food manufacturing in our state, and on Aug 24th’s announcement by JTM is yet another example of our state’s unparalleled strengths rising to meet new opportunities for future growth.” 

The JTM Foods team chose ICT21 Industrial District because of its location in the country and proximity to I-135. The industrial district is located on formerly blighted land that has 560,000 square feet of industrial space under construction through the development group led by Ron and Marty Cornejo.  

“We are thrilled to play a part in bringing this land back into productive use,” said Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple. “Not only will this produce hundreds of jobs in our city, but it will also help represent a significant expansion of the food manufacturing sector locally, making Wichita more competitive on a national scale.” 

“The City of Wichita’s speculative warehouse abatement policy has been especially critical for our ability to recruit new companies,” said Jeff Fluhr, President of Greater Wichita Partnership. “Our elected leaders’ visionary leadership has brought results with companies choosing Wichita for their investment, jobs, and opportunities.” 

The plant will open in the spring of 2023.