GROWING POPULARITY: More and more companies, many with international ties, are choosing Gaston County because of its workforce, location and bright future.

• Author: Blake, Kathy
• Position: COMMUNITY CLOSE-UP: GASTON COUNTY

GNT Group is globally known for its natural food colorings, including EXBERRY. It's made from fruit, vegetables and edible plants and is found in many everyday grocery items. "I can't disclose all our customers, but when you see 'food and vegetable juice for color' on a label, that's likely EXBERRY' says Stefan Hake, CEO of GNT USA. "It's in yogurt varieties, sports drinks, vitamin-fortified drinks, fruit snacks, cereals--anything you can think of." More than 11,500 tons of it is produced annually. That's enough to color 40 billion servings of food and drink.

GNT, which counts customers in 75 countries, is headquartered in the Netherlands and has offices in South America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. And as part of the manufacturer's recent strategic growth plan, it chose to launch a North American expansion from Gaston County.

Hake says Gaston County's reputation for workforce and infrastructure, including a copious supply of water--a key ingredient in making natural food colorings --sealed GNT's decision. "Gaston County has a history of training people in the textile industry, and that played a big role," he says. "And within 300 to 400 miles of our factory, we can have farmers who we can build that relationship with to supply our facility. When you look at the labor force, the infrastructure and road access, it became pretty clear that North Carolina, and specifically Gaston County, were very competitive."

GNT announced a $30 million factory on 50 acres in Apple Creek Corporate Center in 2020. It was the Dallas industrial park's first tenant. In fact, Apple Creek didn't exist when GNT started its search for a North American location.

"When we talked to [Gaston County Economic Development Commission officials] three years ago, we just saw grass," Hake says. "It's a big undertaking for the county to do all the grading and get all the permits; there's risk involved. But we felt very comfortable, and we started in October 2021, and we opened our facility on time and on budget."

GNT isn't the only company that has recently chosen to locate or expand in this corner of North Carolina. Five of Apple Creek's 10 sites, for example, were purchased or under option when it opened in May. "The success of the park happened much faster than anyone anticipated," says Leslie Campbell, Gaston EDC's director of business recruitment.

Myriad reasons bring companies to Gaston County. "Gaston County has worked diligently to provide a complete package of amenities for companies that we locate," says Donny Hicks, Gaston EDO's executive director. "This includes having speculative space and...