Awesome Granola maker opens Indy manufacturing facility
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(photo courtesy of McYoung Foods)
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(photo courtesy of McYoung Foods)
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(photo courtesy of McYoung Foods)
Indianapolis-based McYoung Foods LLC is celebrating the opening of a new manufacturing and warehouse facility for its Awesome Granola brand. The company has invested $500,000 to establish the nut-free facility, which brings production of the gluten- and allergy-free granola product to central Indiana from its previous location in Fargo, North Dakota. Chairman Bill McGinnis says the new, 6,200-square-foot location on Indy’s northeast side more than doubles its previous production space.
“From what I’ve been told, Indianapolis is within 10 hours of the 50% of the U.S. population,” said McGinnis. “We ship all over the country, so it’s really nice to be centrally located. And the cost of shipping in Indianapolis is a whole lot less than the cost of shipping out of Fargo, North Dakota.”
McYoung acquired the granola brand a few years ago and reformulated the product to make it gluten-free, nut-free and allergy-free. After growing the businesses and landing several schools and universities as customers, McGinnis says the company outgrew its space in Fargo.
“So, we moved the company down here [and] bought all new equipment. It’s a totally nut-free facility; it’s a former FDA-approved site here. And so, we’ve been able to be very successful in bringing in new business.”
The small company currently has four employees, one of which relocated from North Dakota. Chief Executive Officer Jeff Young says they plan to add more production and non-production roles, though a specific number was not provided.
Earlier this year, Awesome Granola was selected to have its product sold at Walmart.com as part of retail giant’s annual open call event. The company was chosen last fall to have its product sold on Sam’s Club’s website through its open call as well.
McGinnis says the growth outlook for the company is strong.
“As we continue to grow, we see this business – particularly, the gluten-free, nut-free, allergen-free market – becoming more and more prominent and promising in the future,” he said. “We’ve also been talking to certain chain drug stores and also Walmart about having an allergen-free section within their stores. I think that’s going to be kind of the wave of the future…and I think we’re on the cutting edge.”
Young says over the next six months, McYoung Foods will be looking for Indiana-based companies to support its supply chain needs.