Food & Beverage Manufacturing
Where food & beverage
manufacturers
scale — fast
manufacturers scale — fast
When execution matters, food and beverage manufacturers choose Virginia. From first production runs to scaled national distribution, Virginia offers the lowest-friction path to serve markets across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. It combines logistics reach, manufacturing depth, and coordinated project delivery in one state. This is where companies come to build faster, move faster, and grow faster.
The right resources
for long-term growth
Virginia offers a deep, end-to-end ecosystem spanning suppliers, processing, packaging, and distribution, supported by project-ready, food-grade locations with the utilities and infrastructure manufacturers need to move product to market quickly and efficiently. VEDP’s industry experts coordinate with key partners and research institutions to streamline operations and unlock new growth pathways as companies scale, innovate, and adapt.
Danone North America,Rockingham County
Home to innovative
food & beverage manufacturers
food & beverage manufacturers
Virginia is home to global and national leaders across dairy, snacks, protein, beverages, and specialty foods that operate at scale statewide. As the Commonwealth’s second-largest manufacturing sector, more than 130+ processors have located or expanded here over the past decade — making it one of the Southeast’s largest and most diverse food and beverage manufacturing bases.
A strong foundation built to last
Virginia offers the infrastructure and capacity food and beverage manufacturers need to operate efficiently today and scale with confidence tomorrow.
largest manufacturing sector in Virginia
JobsEQ, 2025 Q3
food and beverage processing companies have chosen to locate or expand in Virginia over the last decade
VEDP Announcements Database
nationally ranked in milk processing
JobsEQ, 2024
warehouses, distribution, and cold storage facilities greater than 400,000 SF
CoStar.com
Success stories
Why companies
succeed in Virginia
Our success as a business is integrally linked to the ecosystem in which we operate and we are grateful to Virginia… and everyone in Rockingham County for being so encouraging and for providing such a productive environment.
Virginia has made for a great manufacturing location for the Hershey Company because it gives us access to the talent and labor supply that we need to operate a highly efficient, automated manufacturing facility.
A logistics advantage
built for food & beverage
built for food & beverage
Virginia is positioned to provide unmatched access to major markets from Boston to Orlando. Food and beverage manufacturers can serve major consumer hubs from a single facility — reducing transportation complexity, inventory risk, and time to shelf.
food and beverage suppliers within a day's drive
Source: D&B 2026
of U.S. population in a day's drive
VEDP Analysis
square feet of cold storage at The Port of Virginia
Source: CoStar.com
Virginia’s food & bev edge:
The Port of Virginia
Looking for access to international markets? Welcome to The Port of Virginia — the widest, deepest, and most efficient port on the East Coast. As a global gateway, The Port of Virginia connects manufacturers directly to international suppliers and customers while enabling high‑velocity domestic distribution.
What’s new
In Complete (Climate) Control
Food and beverage, pharmaceutical companies rely on cold chain infrastructure to succeed in Virginia.
An advanced
manufacturing
workforce built for scale
An advanced manufacturing workforce built for scale
With more than 45,000 workers, Virginia’s food and beverage manufacturing workforce is experienced in automated, high‑throughput production environments. Supported by leading academic programs and steady investments to secure talent pipelines, companies gain access to teams that sustain reliable operations today and support expansion and adaptation tomorrow.
12%
increase in the workforce over the past five years
JobsEQ 2025Q3
Hershey,
Stuarts Draft
1,800+
students graduate annually with relevant degrees from Virginia Tech, including its nationally recognized Food Science program
Source: IPEDS
15,800+
graduates from food & beverage programs
Source: IPEDS 2023-2024
Virginia Tech,
New River Valley
Production‑ready sites
built for speed, scale, and flexibility
Virginia offers one of the East Coast’s most versatile food and beverage manufacturing site portfolios supporting projects of all sizes, timelines, and capital profiles. Companies can choose from facilities ready for immediate occupancy, redevelopment or expansion sites or large-scale greenfields for next-generation facilities — aligning site strategy with operational priorities to launch quickly, expand an existing footprint or build from the ground up.
Gatorade Company,Gateway Region
Meet your
industry partners
Shaun helps food and beverage manufacturers navigate complex production decisions by connecting site readiness, regulatory considerations, and ecosystem partners — anticipating challenges early and identifying opportunities across Virginia’s food and beverage landscape.
Eric supports food and beverage manufacturers by translating operational needs into practical location and growth strategies, coordinating with local partners and research institutions to reduce risk and unlock new production pathways in Virginia.
An expert partner dedicated to your success
VEDP works alongside your team in a consultative, solutions-oriented way — removing obstacles, anticipating challenges, and supporting smarter decisions at every stage of growth.
Find the right location with customized site searches, food-grade production environments with reliable water access, and expert guidance that helps you move quickly from selection to operation.
Regulatory navigation & permitting support
Navigate regulatory requirements with coordinated support from state and local partners, aligning permitting early to reduce delays and avoid downstream risk.
Partner coordination & ecosystem development
Connect with the right public and private partners early to align resources, minimize handoffs and keep projects moving forward.
Access our food & beverage manufacturing guide
Learn more about why food and beverage manufacturing companies choose to locate in Virginia — and how VEDP ensures they flourish and grow.
“Being able to provide quality, safe, and now, locally grown greenhouse produce to our retail partners and consumers is a great accomplishment for our team.
Latest news in food & beverage manufacturing
In Complete (Climate) Control
As Virginia businesses build out and improve their cold chain infrastructure, they must be creative to grab a stake in the nation’s $42 billion business.
While the cold chain is based on keeping perishable food, beverages, and pharmaceutical products cold enough that they don’t spoil from factory to transport to warehouse, success for smaller companies can rely as much on sound decisions and sustainable instincts as anything else.
Red River Foods Expands Henrico Headquarters to Offer New Products
Red River Foods, a fully integrated supplier of nuts, seeds, dried fruits, snacks, and grains ethically sourced worldwide, will invest $15.5 million to expand its Henrico County headquarters.
Building a Food-Service Empire in Northern Virginia
Warren M. Thompson is founder, president, and chairman of Thompson Hospitality Corporation, one of the largest contract food service and facilities management companies in the United States, with a portfolio of more than 65 restaurants across 17 different brands.
Nightingale Expands Ice Cream Manufacturing Operation in Richmond
Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches, a Richmond-based, handcrafted, small batch ice cream company, is investing $5.8 million to expand, creating 166 new jobs in the City of Richmond.