Shearer’s Foods to expand in Bristol

Published November 26, 2013 by Jessica Sabbath

Salty snacks company Shearer’s Foods is adding a tortilla chip manufacturing line at its operations in Bristol to better serve its customers in the Southeast.

The $4.75 million investment is expected to create between 20 and 25 new jobs.

Shearer’s, based in Massillon, Ohio, employs 275 people in Bristol. The Bristol site makes a variety of tortilla and potato chip products.

“The Shearer’s facility located in Bristol, Virginia, was selected as the ideal site to expand operations partially based on the economic incentives provided by the city of Bristol and the commonwealth of Virginia,” Mark Schwerdtfeger, vice president at Shearer’s, said in a statement. “In addition, we were attracted to the great skilled workforce available in the Bristol area.”

Virginia competed with Tennessee for the investment. Gov. Bob McDonnell approved a $75,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to help Bristol with the project. The Virginia Tobacco and Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $245,000 for the project.