New meal prep firm coming to Solano County, expected to bring lots of jobs
May 05 2019By Vallejo Times-Herald |
PUBLISHED: May 3, 2019 at 6:19 pm | UPDATED: May 3, 2019 at 6:20 pm
A new manufacturing plant and potentially hundreds of jobs are moving to Vacaville with a firm called Thistle, it was announced this week.
Officials from the City of Vacaville and the Solano Economic Development Corporation (EDC) announced Thistle officials’ decision to expand into Solano County and to locate its primary ready-to-eat meal production and packaging facility in Vacaville.
Thistle decided on Vacaville over other locations in California and Nevada for several reasons, company officials said — it is still within the greater Bay Area and close to their corporate headquarters in San Francisco and their other operations in the East Bay. Also, Solano County allows easy access to their major markets by proximity and transportation links; the affordability both for employees and the business was important; and the continued support and teamwork of Vacaville, the Solano EDC, PG&E and the Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development in getting the project off the ground.
The firm deals in foods that “are plant-forward, gluten and dairy-free, and primarily organic and sourced locally,” officials said. The company has witnessed significant growth in the last three years — and with growth came the need to graduate to a larger additional facility, they said.
The new operation will be at 771 Eubanks Drive, where the company will occupy 79,000 square feet and more than 250 employees to start, officials said. The initial operation will will require employees “with a diverse array of skill sets,” they said.
The company will be purchasing natural ingredients, creating and designing new menus, and producing, packaging and distributing meals from this facility to deliver across the West Coast and beyond, officials said.
Thistle will be transitioning into the space over the next six months. The City of Vacaville will host an information session and job fair for potential employees, officials said.