Southern Champion Tray (SCT) plans to expand in Chattanooga with an investment of $18.1 million creating 105 new jobs.
SCT is a manufacturer of paperboard packaging primarily for the food industry, while also serving other industries including cosmetic, automotive, hardware and office. A third-generation family-owned company with a culture focused on wellness, SCT also provides graphic design and printing services to customers, and currently employs about 450 people at two facilities in the Chattanooga area.
“Our company’s growth has put pressure on our local space and equipment, and this expansion is important for our continued success,” said John Zeiser, president and CEO of Southern Champion Tray.
“Chattanooga has been SCT’s home since 1927, and we’re pleased to grow our business here.”
The SCT expansion will include the addition of state of the art racking systems and a new HVAC system. The company will also relocate their truck fleet service facility from the North Chattanooga SCT location to the 365,000 square foot Amnicola Highway location. The North Chattanooga facility will add new manufacturing machines including a cutter, gluer and new tray forming equipment.
“As a Chattanooga business for almost 90 years, Southern Champion Tray is an incredible asset to our community,” said Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke. “I’m excited to see them expand here and create more jobs for our citizens.”
“It’s always exciting to see homegrown businesses like Southern Champion Tray making strides and continuing to invest in our area,” said Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger.
“It is exciting to see SCT continue to grow,” said Charles Wood, vice president of Economic Development at the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce. “We are aware that they have another facility in Texas, and many other cities would love to have this type of growth, so we are proud that they continue to build their legacy in Chattanooga.”