The Right Place assists SnackCraft with Kentwood expansion

Today, The Right Place, Inc., in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the City of Kentwood, announced SnackCraft will be expanding its headquarters at 4444 52^nd St. in Kentwood, creating up to 37 new jobs and $29.9 million in capital investment.

SnackCraft LLC is a gluten free, allergen-controlled contract manufacturer of baked and salty snack foods based in the City of Kentwood and is a subsidiary of Greece-based Unismack S.A. SnackCraft was established in Kentwood in 2022 as Unismack’s first North American manufacturing operations and its U.S. headquarters. The company is experiencing rapidly increasing demand for its products and already plans to expand at its existing location.

First established in Greece in 2008, Unismack specializes in R&D and the manufacture of high-quality, natural baked snacks which are free from allergens and artificial ingredients. SnackCraft’s products include baked crackers, tortilla chips, pellet snacks, and baked extruded snacks made of unique ingredients like lentil flour, chickpea flour, vegetable flours, wholegrain corn, various seeds and other innovative natural ingredients.

The company plans a 186,000-square-foot expansion that will result in a total of 311,000-square-feet of manufacturing, warehousing and distribution space. The project will further boost Michigan’s agribusiness industry and bring immediate well-paying jobs to the area. In addition, the project will bring immediate good jobs to the area and will serve as the hub for the company’s future operations in North America.

“The expansion demonstrates our commitment to the area and enables the future growth potential for both existing and new customer opportunities, as well as securing SnackCraft’s long term food manufacturing platform,” said Joseph F. Riley, CEO of SnackCraft.

The Right Place worked closely with the MEDC to ensure the company continued its growth in the region rather than an out-of-state location. They offered support by effectively organizing state and local resources, including a 50-percent property tax abatement in support of the project from the City of Kentwood. This project will further boost Michigan’s agribusiness industry and bring immediate well-paying jobs to the area as SnackCraft grows its hub for the company’s future operations in North America.

"I connected with SnackCraft in early 2022 when they were in the process of establishing their first North American operations here in Kentwood," said Brent Case, VP of Business Attraction at The Right Place and project lead. "Being part of their journey, from the initial stages to now helping with their expansion just over a year later has been an incredible opportunity. I’m excited to see what’s in store for them moving forward."

“The City of Kentwood is proud of our open for business culture and our commitment to collaborating with local, national and international companies to create jobs and foster economic growth in our community,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said. “SnackCraft has been an excellent community partner, and we’re delighted to see the company continue to expand its operations and workforce in Kentwood and look forward to celebrating their continued success.”

Information on careers with SnackCraft can be found here.