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Sustainable Food Producer Adding 100 Jobs

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Do Good Foods, a producer of sustainable foods that seeks to use nutritious surplus grocery from stores and farmers markets, announced plans to establish operations in Fort Wayne, creating up to 100 jobs by the end of 2024.

“Do Good Foods takes Indiana’s advancements in sustainable food production to the next level and propels the state’s progress in clean energy," said Governor Eric J. Holcomb. “Taking food waste, the number one material in America's landfills, and upcycling it to feed our livestock is the type of ingenuity we encourage and cultivate in Indiana."

Headquartered in Bedminster, New Jersey, Do Good Foods plans to invest up to $100 million in an animal feed production facility located at 8645 Aviation Dr., near the Fort Wayne International Airport. The facility will divert food waste from up to 450 supermarkets, repurposing about 60,000 tons of food waste on an annual basis. This reduces the amount of food waste and associated greenhouse gas emissions in area landfills. The facility is expected to open by early 2025.

“Governor Holcomb and I are ecstatic to welcome Do Good Foods to Indiana,” said Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers. ”Their business model helps expand the circular economy here in the Hoosier state, building on Indiana’s momentum to shift away from the consumption of finite resources to more sustainable alternatives.”

With the mission to reduce and ultimately eliminate food waste, Do Good Foods upcycles excess food into nutrient-dense animal feed, which is then fed to chickens. Each Do Good Chicken saves approximately four pounds of surplus groceries from being thrown away, preventing approximately three pounds of greenhouse gases. The company's first product, Do Good Chicken, is available in grocery stores in northeast Indiana and will soon be available nationwide.

"We’re excited about the expansion of DGF into the Fort Wayne market,” said Matt Kamine, co-CEO of Do Good Foods. “This project is a great opportunity for DGF to work with the local community on bringing more sustainable solutions to Fort Wayne and the retailers and food service providers located there.”

The company will begin hiring in Fort Wayne this summer for production, processing, shipping, management and administrative roles to work in remote and on-site locations prior to operations commencing at the facility.

“Fort Wayne continues to be a leader in business and job growth, and we’re looking forward to welcoming Do Good Foods,” said Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry. “This substantial and unique investment further positions us as an attractive destination for companies looking to expand and succeed.”

Based on the company’s job creation plans, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) committed an investment in KDC Agribusiness Fort Wayne LLC, dba Do Good Foods, of up to $1.2 million in the form of incentive-based tax credits and up to $100,000 in conditional training grants. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once Hoosiers are hired and trained. Northeast Indiana Works will provide the company with additional hiring and training assistance. The Fort Wayne City Council will consider additional incentives.