November 23, 2020

When Niagara Bottling, LLC, America’s largest family-owned and operated beverage supplier, outgrew its existing facility in Temple’s Industrial Park, the next step was clear – it was time to expand Niagara’s existing operations in Temple, Texas.

Niagara announced the expansion of its location in Temple through a recent investment in the region, following the 2019 completion of the company’s 450,000-square-foot facility located on 50 acres in Temple. Since 2019, Niagara has quickly ramped up to nearly 80 employees in the region.

Family owned and operated since 1963, Niagara has positioned itself as the leading private label bottled water supplier in the United States thanks to its innovative bottle design, vertical integration, and significant advancements in high-tech manufacturing. The company invests in sustainability through water conservation and the manufacturing of 100% recyclable bottles and caps. Niagara also utilizes its own innovative Eco Air Package™ to eliminate the need for cardboard shipping trays.

“Temple has offered Niagara an ideal, welcoming home in which to grow our eco-friendly operations,” says Brian Hess, Executive Vice President of Niagara Bottling. “After nearly a year of business in Temple, it is evident that the talented workforce, accessible location, and infrastructure here make it the prime location to expand. As we grow, we look forward to bringing more members of the Niagara family onboard and dedicate ourselves to being stewards of this great city.”

Food and Beverage Companies Find Success in Temple

Niagara Bottling is in good company doing business in Texas, and specifically in Temple, as the region has seen an uptick in food and beverage business in recent years. This growth is largely due to Temple’s advantageous location, booming skilled workforce, and unbeatable infrastructure, all of which contribute to Temple’s position as an epicenter for food and beverage distribution.

  • Leading Texas grocer H-E-B, which has been operating in Temple since 2010 and currently maintains an 800,000-square-foot facility in Temple, recently chose to expand its existing warehouse capacity and operations. Looking to better meet the rising demands of consumers in light of COVID-19, H-E-B’s expansion project will grow the current facility to 1,050,000-square-feet. With immediate access to I-35 and a location within three hours of eighty-percent of Texas’ population, H-E-B’s expansion in Temple will be beneficial not only for the community but will also strengthen the company’s distribution efforts.
  • Headquartered right here in Temple, McLane Company, Inc. is one of the largest supply chain service providers in the country, furnishing food and beverage products to convenience stores, mass merchants, drug stores, and a plethora of chain restaurants across the United States. Following an expansion in 2013 to both its North and South Temple campuses, McLane increased its total employment in Temple to over 600.
  • One of the biggest consumer names in the U.S., Walmart celebrated 25 years of its Temple distribution center in 2019, which encompasses more than 1 million square feet. A huge provider of food and beverage goods, Walmart’s thriving distribution center on the north side of Temple employs over 700 skilled workers and benefits from Central Texas’ robust transportation network which connects drivers to major interstates within just 15 minutes. Accessibility is just one incentive to Walmart’s business operations in Temple, as the company also benefits from assets like the region’s diverse workforce and appealing financial incentives.

Why Choose Temple? 

Talent Pool

Leading food and beverage companies benefit from Temple’s top-tier workforce, made up of everything from university graduates to vocational workers to military veterans. This pool of highly-skilled talent is only growing – in fact, between 2014 and 2019 the region saw a 7% population increase. And thanks to Temple’s excellent quality of life assets, the region is filled with happy, healthy workers and allows for successful recruitment efforts from neighboring states.

Logistics & Distribution

Perhaps the most shining asset for food and beverage companies considering a relocation or expansion in Central Texas is the region’s truly unbeatable infrastructure. Temple is situated just three hours from major markets in Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, and also provides easy access for doing business in Mexico. With 80% of Texas’ population accessible by I-35, and the rest of the U.S. accessible from the region’s five airports, there’s no better place to do business than Temple. 

Low Business Costs

When it comes to growing a business, there’s no better place to be than Texas. The cost of doing business in Temple, specifically, is 15% below the national average, and companies that contribute to the Temple, Texas economy through job creation and other investments have an even larger competitive edge when it comes to the cost of doing business in Temple.

Is your business interested in joining the ranks of Temple’s growing food and beverage industry cluster? Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your company succeed in Central Texas.