Universal Preserv-A-Chem, Inc. (UPI) has selected Mebane, North Carolina, as the new location for its natural ingredients and chemical supply business, creating 39 jobs. The company plans to invest $17 million in the project.
“We are very excited about making Mebane the new home for our state-of-the-art distribution center,” said Daniel Ravitz, president of UPI. “This move will allow UPI to continue to provide world-class customer service with on time delivery and competitive pricing, as well as exceed conventional industry standards as one of the world’s premier distributors of natural ingredients and chemicals for the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and industrial trades.”
North Carolina Gov. Roy Copper said “communities like Mebane attract manufacturing companies and their suppliers because of North Carolina’s strong transportation infrastructure and experienced workforce.”
UPI provides raw materials and ingredients to many industries, including personal care, food and beverage, flavor and fragrance, pharmaceutical, industrial manufacturing and sport nutrition. UPI was established in 1967 and now has 4,000 different product offerings and global partnerships with leading ingredient manufacturers. UPI’s planned cGMP, ISO9001 facility in Mebane will provide temperature controlled warehousing, distribution, bulk storage and USP, FCC white room kosher repackaging of products in addition to quality control and laboratory analytical testing to assure product quality.
The state Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina were instrumental in supporting the company’s decision to locate in the state.
Salaries for the new position will vary. Once all positions are filled, the average salary is expected to be $42,224, above the Alamance County average salary of $40,024.
A performance-based grant of $75,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help facilitate UPI’s move to Alamance County. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All One NC grants require a matching grant from local governments and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.
In addition to North Carolina Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, other key partners in the project include the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, Alamance County Area Chamber of Commerce, Alamance County and the City of Mebane.