Food processing is a staple of Winchester’s growing advanced manufacturing sector. The area’s proximity on the east coast, below-average wage rates, stable tax structure, and reliable utilities attract all sizes of food manufacturers to the area. The current landscape includes companies like Kraft Foods, New World Pasta, HP Hood, Miller Milling, National Fruit, and Royal Crown Bottling. Area executives continuously tout the area’s workforce as top-notch and rave about the area’s accessibility; with major Interstates 81 and 66 making it a breeze for trucks to move in and out. Add to this the community’s commitment to existing business, and it’s easy to see why food processors are excited about their future in Winchester-Frederick County.
NICHE TARGETS
Within food processing, perishable products and packaged foods are immediate targets.
KEY ADVANTAGES
- Large existing cluster of food processing manufacturers
- Kraft Foods | New World Pasta | HP Hood | Miller Milling | National Fruit | Royal Crown Bottling
- Training resources available through Lord Fairfax Community College’s Workforce Solutions Center
- Reliable utilities
- Affordable and abundant workforce
- Transportation network
- I-81 | I-66 | U.S. Rt. 11 | U.S. Rt. 50 | U.S. Rt. 522 | VA Rt. 7 | VA Rt. 37
- CSX and Norfolk Southern rail with connecting service provided by Winchester & Western
- Virginia Inland Port (15 miles)
- Winchester Regional Airport & Dulles International Airport (52 miles)
- Winchester is serviced by more than 30 motor freight companies
What-If Scenerio
A company locating to Winchester with the need for 100 employees could expect the following labor availability:
|
Soc Code |
Title |
Current Empl |
Current Unempl |
Regional Avg Wage |
Transferable Empl |
|
51-3022 |
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers |
16 |
1 |
$22,000 |
63 |
|
51-9111 |
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders |
282 |
6 |
$27,800 |
282 |
|
51-3023 |
Slaughterers and Meat Packers |
3 |
n/a |
$22,800 |
16 |
|
51-3092 |
Food Batchmakers |
119 |
1 |
$25,800 |
356 |
|
53-7064 |
Packers and Packagers, Hand |
384 |
5 |
$21,100 |
n/a |
|
51-9198 |
Helpers–Production Workers |
239 |
27 |
$25,800 |
n/a |
|
53-7062 |
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand |
966 |
11 |
$27,400 |
7,724 |
|
51-3011 |
Bakers |
69 |
2 |
$24,500 |
415 |
|
51-1011 |
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Production and Operating Workers |
312 |
2 |
$56,500 |
937 |
|
53-7051 |
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators |
376 |
6 |
$29,100 |
1,127 |
|
49-9042 |
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General |
460 |
5 |
$37,100 |
1,839 |
|
51-2092 |
Team Assemblers |
483 |
1 |
$25,100 |
n/a |
|
51-9199 |
Production Workers, All Other |
121 |
34 |
$29,800 |
n/a |
|
49-9041 |
Industrial Machinery Mechanics |
135 |
1 |
$47,000 |
807 |
|
51-9061 |
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers |
198 |
3 |
$34,300 |
2,777 |
|
51-3093 |
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders |
35 |
1 |
$23,600 |
106 |
|
51-9023 |
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
93 |
1 |
$30,200 |
742 |
|
37-2011 |
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners |
827 |
5 |
$23,200 |
n/a |
|
53-3032 |
Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer |
823 |
17 |
$37,800 |
8,229 |
|
53-7061 |
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment |
127 |
1 |
$21,300 |
254 |
|
43-5071 |
Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks |
299 |
2 |
$30,800 |
896 |
|
41-4012 |
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products |
452 |
5 |
$55,000 |
1,808 |
|
53-7063 |
Machine Feeders and Offbearers |
86 |
1 |
$22,400 |
604 |
|
53-3031 |
Driver/Sales Workers |
156 |
1 |
$26,800 |
313 |
|
11-1021 |
General and Operations Managers |
569 |
10 |
$100,100 |
n/a |
|
41-2011 |
Cashiers |
1,725 |
18 |
$19,000 |
1,725 |
|
41-2031 |
Retail Salespersons |
1,988 |
10 |
$24,800 |
1,988 |
|
51-3091 |
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders |
18 |
n/a |
$28,000 |
91 |
|
51-9032 |
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
49 |
1 |
$29,500 |
395 |
|
51-3021 |
Butchers and Meat Cutters |
43 |
1 |
$29,100 |
259 |
