The Livingston Enterprise

Posted February 27, 2019 at 9:22 am

The Livingston Chocolate Company, a local bottling plant with a history of producing a variety of beverages for about 54 years, was recently put up for sale and holds a sale price of $3.7 million.

Former General Manager Kevin Garrett said the low-acid processing plant has seen about 50 different brands of chocolate drinks like Yoo-hoo to HeyDay, pass down the line–getting several contracts with different beverage companies over the years.

Around the beginning of December 2018, the company was notified to stop all production.

Factory employees were hopeful that work would continue because contracts with beverage companies have come and gone in the past, but then, in January of this year, for sale signs at the 701 N. Church Street location began popping up around the property.

“They didn’t get any of their contracts renewed,” said Greg McDonald with the Chamber of Commerce, who said that he was not notified when the company closed its doors.

While known as a bottling company for beverages like Dr. Pepper and 7-Up for many years, the factory has reportedly not run a bottle since 2007.

Beverages began taking a different shape after the factory was purchased from Lee Crowder in 2007, reportedly by an owner of Rockstar, Inc. who was not named, and a variety of flavors of a popular energy and coffee drinks called Rockstar Roasted was cooked and packaged in a 16 oz. can.

“It has been really slow for the last five years,” said Garrett, adding, “It’s out of our hands.”

Garrett estimated that the factory would produce 7,000 to 10,000 cases of beverages per day and took a crew of 25-30 employees.

The property listing includes two structures, the plant itself, at 24,502 square feet with 2.2 acres, and an additional storage warehouse, at 17,000 square feet and 2.7 acres located at 915 N. Church Street.

The two properties in the listing are a combined total of 4.9 acres and are being sold together at $3,700,000 through The Heartland Real Estate Company, LLC.

“I would like to bring those jobs back to the community,” said Heartland Real Estate agent Jamie Killmon Norris, adding, “30 people are 30 families.”