Situation

Westrock Coffee Company, a global integrated coffee, tea, and extract solutions provider, was established in 2009 by prominent Arkansas executive Scott Ford and Joe Ford. Westrock established its corporate headquarters in Little Rock and manufacturing operations in North Little Rock. As demand for its products continued to grow, the company sought to expand its manufacturing capabilities and establish a larger, more advanced production footprint.

In 2021, Westrock Coffee announced plans to develop a major manufacturing facility in Conway, Arkansas, positioning the project to become the nation’s largest roasting-to-ready-to-drink packaging facility.

CHALLENGE

Westrock Coffee needed to expand its production capacity to keep pace with increasing demand from customers around the world. The company needed a facility capable of bringing more of its production process together while incorporating advanced technology, automation, and product development capabilities.

The company needed a location that could support a large-scale operation, provide access to a strong workforce, and accommodate future growth.

Solution

Westrock Coffee chose Conway, Arkansas for a transformational expansion that would significantly increase the company’s manufacturing capacity and capabilities.

In 2023, the company announced plans to invest more than $300 million and create 600 new jobs in Conway. The investment supported the development of a state-of-the-art, 570,000-square-foot manufacturing facility designed to streamline the production process from coffee roasting through ready-to-drink packaging.

The facility features advanced robotics and automation, as well as a beverage development laboratory that allows Westrock Coffee to develop, test and scale new products more efficiently. A separate 530,000-square-foot warehousing and distribution center further strengthens the company’s supply chain and distribution capabilities.

The project brought together Westrock Coffee, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, state and local partners, and the Conway community to support one of the largest food and beverage manufacturing investments in the state.

Results

Westrock Coffee opened its Conway facility in 2024 ahead of schedule, delivering a major economic development win for Central Arkansas.

The completed facility represents a $315 million investment and is the largest roast-to-ready-to-drink manufacturing facility in North America. The project is expected to create 600 new jobs, providing new opportunities for Arkansas workers across manufacturing, engineering, production and other skilled fields.

Th expansion strengthens Arkansas’s position as a destination for advanced food and beverage manufacturing. By choosing Conway, Westrock Coffee has created a larger, more technologically advanced production hub while expanding its ability to serve customers globally from Arkansas.

Westrock Coffee’s growth in Conway demonstrates how strategic investment, infrastructure and economic development partnerships can help Arkansas companies scale their operations, create quality jobs and compete in global markets.