Monin to Build $111 Million Flavor Plant in Zephyrhills, Adding 100+ Jobs

Monin, the French flavoring company known for the syrups behind coffee shop lattes and cocktail bars worldwide, plans to buy 70 acres at the Zephyrhills Airport Industrial Park Ready Site and build a manufacturing plant worth more than $111 million. The project is expected to bring more than 100 full-time jobs paying at least $46,760 a year on average, and it marks the latest company to plant a flag in the city's growing Industrial Corridor.

The announcement came jointly from the Pasco Economic Development Council, FloridaCommerce, the City of Zephyrhills and the Pasco Board of County Commissioners. Pasco commissioners approved the project this week, and the Zephyrhills City Council approved its own incentive package a day before the announcement.

Monin's chief financial officer, Greg Grabau, said the company looked at 10 candidate sites across four states before settling on Zephyrhills, citing labor availability, site readiness and room for long-term growth. Monin already operates a facility in Clearwater, and executives said the proximity between the two sites will let them share staff expertise as the new plant ramps up.

Company CEO William Lombardo called it what will become "our largest production and warehouse distribution facility anywhere." He said Monin is still finalizing a builder and hopes to break ground before the end of the year.

What the city is putting up

Zephyrhills' incentive package totals $3,289,372, tied directly to Monin hiring 100 new full-time workers at those wage levels. The package includes:

• Waived or reimbursed transportation impact fees, up to $252,750
• Waived or reimbursed permit fees, up to $435,060
• A job-creation cash grant equal to 50 percent of the company's city property taxes for years one through five, dropping to 25 percent for years six through ten

City and county officials frame the deal as an investment that pays for itself through new jobs and an expanded tax base rather than a straightforward giveaway. Duke Energy also had a hand in the groundwork, having partnered with Pasco EDC to prepare and market the Zephyrhills Airport Industrial Park through its site-readiness programs.

Part of a bigger buildout

Mayor Melonie Bahr Monson pointed to the Monin deal as more proof that the city's Industrial Corridor is drawing attention beyond Pasco County. Bauducco Foods and MiTek have both expanded operations in Zephyrhills recently, and Pasco EDC leadership noted that Bauducco's job fair earlier this year drew hundreds of applicants, a sign of how much local demand exists for these kinds of positions.

Pasco EDC President and CEO Bill Cronin said the county has deliberately set aside industrial land near infrastructure and workforce hubs like Zephyrhills, aiming to bring jobs closer to where people already live rather than relying on residents commuting elsewhere. "We've historically been a bedroom community for many years," Cronin said, adding that getting jobs back into the community has been the priority.

Not everyone at this week's discussions was cheering without reservation. Some Zephyrhills residents told local reporters that while they welcome the jobs, they worry road capacity and other infrastructure haven't kept pace with the city's industrial and residential growth. Traffic around the airport corridor has already gotten harder to navigate, several residents said, and they want to see infrastructure spending keep up with the pace of new development.

Construction has not yet started. Monin says it is still finalizing a builder and hopes to break ground before the end of the year, with the project expected to generate roughly 564 local job-years during construction alone. No timeline for the plant's opening or hiring has been announced yet.

For more on how Zephyrhills is growing, visit the Zephyrhills Community Website or join the conversation in our Community Forum. You can also read more business development stories or catch up on other government and politics coverage shaping the city's next chapter.