Schratter Foods Inc., which does business as Anco Fine Cheese, has requested a $130,000 grant from the City's Office of Economic Development to relocate its Southeast regional headquarters and distribution center to North Jacksonville and create 75 jobs, according to legislation filed with the City.
The project will create 75 new jobs at an average annual salary of $57,000. The jobs will be created by Dec. 31, 2015, according to legislation that will be introduced Tuesday to City Council.
The company's website currently lists Miami as its Southeast distribution branch. Schratter proposes to build a structure at 1590 Transport Court near Jacksonville International Airport. The site is within the JIA Community Redevelopment Area.
The $130,000 City incentive would be a Recapture Enhanced Value grant, commonly referred to as a REV grant. The grant would be paid at the beginning of the first year after project construction was completed and included on the City tax rolls.
The grant would be paid in installments for five years. REV grants are reimbursements by the City for capital improvements and property taxes already paid by the company.
The agreement includes the construction of a new building and the purchase and installation of manufacturing equipment at the location, which represents a $12 million capital investment by the company, according to the redevelopment agreement.
The executive director of the City economic development office or a designee will oversee the project to ensure the agreed-upon conditions are met.
According to the company's website, ancofinecheese.com, Anco is the largest importer of specialty cheeses in the U.S. and imports a "very unique product line" from more than 20 counties.
Its "exclusive best sellers" include cheese products from II Villagio, Alouette, Frico and IIe de France, among others.
The website said the company can source, cut and wrap, and distribute cheese from its five U.S. distribution centers that provides "a guarantee of freshness and food safety control."
Anco is a subsidiary Bongrain SA, based in Viroflay, France. Anco has U.S. corporate headquarters in Fairfield, N.J.
Mike Breen, JAXUSA Partnership senior director of international development, said Wednesday he has worked with the project for about six months and it is a company expansion.
He said the company is one of many European-based industries interested in setting up an operation or increasing their presence in Northeast Florida. He said growth in Central and South Florida has helped draw interest from companies who seek to move goods faster in to and out of Jacksonville than they could in other Southeastern cities with port facilities.
Breen said to expect more international deals.
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