Dr. Schar USA Bows Gluten-free Facility
Dr. Schar USA, a subsidiary of Europe’s market leader in gluten-free food, has officially opened its first gluten-free manufacturing facility in the United States. Located in Swedesboro, N.J., the 60,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility will produce Schar’s baked goods, including the newly introduced gluten-free plain and cinnamon bagels. The site will also produce the company’s Classic and Multigrain Ciabatta Parbaked rolls and baguettes; Hearty White Frozen Bread; Hearty Grain Frozen Bread; and upcoming items currently in development.
“The launch of our first facility in the United States is an exciting milestone for the Schar brand,” said Donna L. George, president and COO of Lyndhurst, N.J.-based Dr. Schar USA Inc. “The facility will help accelerate the growth and availability of innovative gluten-free foods in grocery, natural and specialty stores, as well as restaurants and other food outlets across the country. Dr. Schar is committed to raising awareness and improving the quality of life of those in the U.S. who have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Our vision is for the Schar brand to be the U.S. market leader in gluten-free foods and innovation, and New Jersey is a perfect location to support our national distribution and growth.”
As a gluten-free facility, Schar will strictly adhere to the same rigorous production standards followed by all of its manufacturing sites across the globe. The facility will comply with the 20-ppm-or-less maximum gluten content standard established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a joint program of the World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization.
Attendees at the opening event included Ulrich Ladurner, owner and president of Dr Schär Group, who launched the company more than 30 years ago; Caren S. Franzini CEO of the Trenton-based New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA); and actress Jennifer Esposito, who has celiac disease and has founded a nonprofit organization, Jennifer’s Way Foundation for Celiac, to provide education on the condition and serve as a resource for those living with the disease. To help the organization continue to raise awareness of celiac disease and provide information for the celiac community, Schar presented Esposito with a monetary donation of $2,500.
The new facility is projected to create more than 50 new jobs and help fuel New Jersey’s local economy, as well as meet the demands of the burgeoning gluten-free marketplace, which is expected to surpass $2.6 billion by the end of this year.
Dr. Schar’s parent company, Burgstall, Italy-based Dr. Schär AG/SPA, invested more than $15 million into the new facility. The company offers more than 300 products in Europe and has so far introduced 33 items to the U.S. market.