Kraft Foods announces expansion of production plant

DOVER, Del. Kraft Foods, the second largest food manufacturer in the world, announced Thursday it is adding 40 jobs and expanding production at its Dover manufacturing plant.

Kraft, the maker of Jell-o gelatins, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and Maxwell House coffees, is directing about $40 million towards upgrading its Dover plant to up production of single-serving packets of its popular drink mixes, like Capri Sun, Crystal Light, Country Time, Kool-Aid and Tang.

The State of Delaware has awarded Kraft a $708,000 grant to help grow the 1-million square-foot plant and boost production.

The announcement for expansion comes at a turnaround from a couple of years ago when Kraft was closing manufacturing plants and cutting jobs. Nationwide, the U.S. has seen the loss of hundreds of manufacturing jobs in recent years.

The jobs that Kraft is adding will include operator and mechanic positions on the single-serve drink-mix production line. Kevin Ripley, the plant’s manager, said that the annual salaries of these jobs will be between $35,000 and $45,000. The Dover Kraft plant currently employs 520 people.