Sopakco opens second facility in Mullins

Sopakco has opened a second facility called Sopakco Mullins Processing. The 200,000-square-foot facility represents a $10 million investment. It's been in operation three or four weeks and hosts about 50 associates.

By: Patricia Burkett | SCNow
Published: November 12, 2009

MULLINS — Economic development officials have announced the opening of a second Sopakco facility in Marion County.

The plant, Sopakco Mullins Processing, is located on Mullins Street and is a 200,000-square-foot facility. Company officials said it represents a $10 million investment and has been in operation since late October. The site employs about 50 people.

Sopakco has been operating in Mullins since 1965. The original plant prepares Meals Ready-To-Eat, which are distributed to U.S. military forces and non-military government agencies.

Sopakco officials said they will make bowls and containers at the new facility for clients such as Tyson, Nutrisystem, General Mills and Kellogg’s.

Company officials said the choice to open the second facility locally is a reflection of the hard work and availability of the Marion County work force.

“We’re very comfortable here in Mullins, we’ve been here for decades,” Sopakco President Lonnie Thompson said. “The folks here are such wonderful people to work with, and the work force is tremendous and we’re very proud of that,” Thompson said.

Thursday’s announcement marks the second of its kind in the area in less than two months. In late September, the S.C. Department of Commerce and Marion County officials announced that Softee Supreme Diaper Corp. would expand and locate operations in Marion County. The $6 million investment is expected to create the more than 250 jobs during the next four years.

Economic development officials and local leaders say it signals a turn of events for a county hit very hard by layoffs and high unemployment rates. Marion County had the state’s third highest unemployment rate — 20 percent in September.

“This is the best I’ve felt about Marion County in the past 10 years,” state Sen. Kent Williams of Marion said. “There’s no doubt in my mind this is a signal that in Marion County, things are beginning to turn around and I think there are even bigger and better things yet to come.”

Marion County Economic Development Director Rodney Berry said the investments signal a new wave of investment for the county and are evidence of local leaders’ hard work to recruit industry.

“I think it sends a clear message that, first of all, the people that you’ve elected and the people that we’ve put in key positions are working very hard,” he said.

“We’ve made a lot of relationships on the state level that are now paying off, so I think if you live in Marion County right now, you’ll want to stay in Marion County, cause there’s a lot of good things to come.”

Both Berry, who also is Marion’s mayor, and Williams said they are continuing to work to recruit other businesses to the county and have some plans in the works.

“It gives the citizens of Marion County hope, that you know, there is a future here in Marion County,” Williams said. “Once upon a time, there was no future. We didn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel, but that is no longer the case.”