Eight years after arriving in Lancaster, Nutramax Laboratories is expanding for the third time, announcing Wednesday that it will invest another $20 million in facilities and hire 225 employees – a 60 percent increase in its local workforce.
From the governor’s office to Lancaster County, officials hailed the move.
“It’s difficult to put into words just how much Nutramax Laboratories means to Lancaster County,” said county council Chairman Steve Harper. “This company has brought manufacturing jobs to a community that was in desperate need of them and continues to invest in Lancaster County with new facilities and jobs.”
Jamie Gilbert, the county’s economic development director, said Nutramax has become one of county’s signature employers. The company researches and manufactures nutritional supplements for pets and humans.
“Their products are recognized worldwide by pet owners, and their reputation in the nutritional industry is second to none,” Gilbert said. “We couldn’t be prouder that they call Lancaster County home for both their corporate headquarters and manufacturing of nutraceuticals for pets.”
The expansion has been in the works for some time, cloaked under the code name “Project Pepper.”
On Monday, county council passed the first of three readings on tax incentives for the expansion in the form of special source revenue credits and a 30-year fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement. On Tuesday, Lancaster City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the credits.
Gov. Henry McMaster said in a statement heralding the announcement that hiring for the new positions will begin immediately.
Job postings are online at https://nutramaxlabs.applicantpro.com/jobs/.
Dr. Todd Henderson, Nutramax president and CEO, said the company’s growth is proof that American free enterprise is alive and well. Henderson, a veterinarian, is the son of company founder Robert “Dr. Bob” Henderson, a pharmacist.
“We have fantastic employees, and they are our greatest asset,” said Todd Henderson. “Our company’s mission is quite simple: To serve the Lord and glorify him using the gifts he has given our employees to research, develop, manufacture and market products that improve the quality of life for people and their pets.”
Nutramax already has 375 employees at three Lancaster County locations. A lab and manufacturing facility are inside Lancaster Business Park just north of S.C. 9 Bypass East. A warehouse operation is on S.C. 903 in the former U.S. Textile Corp. plant purchased by Nutramax in 2015.
The business park isn’t in the corporate city limits, but the city of Lancaster provides water and sewer service to the park’s tenants.
At Tuesday night’s city council meeting, Kristen Blanchard, vice president of external corporate affairs, talked about the company’s connections to the community.
“For us, it’s not just about jobs,” Blanchard said. “We are very much engaged in the community and it’s been a very open, accepting community. I’ve found Lancaster to be one of the most amazing communities I’ve ever been around. South Carolina is our home, and we want to stay here.”
Mayor Pro Tem Tamara Green Garris said she liked that Nutramax is a “Christian-based” company and mentioned its sponsorship of so many events and support for Lancaster nonprofits.
Nutramax is a family-owned business founded by Dr. Bob Henderson in 1992. The company moved its headquarters from Maryland to Lancaster in 2010, but still has a manufacturing facility in Maryland.
Cosequin is Nutramax’s flagship joint supplement for pets, and Cosamin is a joint-health supplement for humans. The company sponsors the Emmy-winning Saturday morning CBS series “Lucky Dog,” which features host Brandon McMillan rescuing shelter dogs, often with special needs, and training them to live with their new owners.
Announcing the company’s expansion this week, S.C. Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt said South Carolina has become a magnet for high-tech companies such as Nutramax, whose total investment here will top $60 million with the new facilities.
McMaster said the state’s solid manufacturing base continues to flourish.
“We produce advanced things in South Carolina, including pharmaceuticals and medical products. As a result, a burgeoning life-sciences industry has developed within our borders, and the success of companies like Nutramax Laboratories is proof that this thriving sector will only continue to grow in our state,” he said.
By Gregory A. Summers and Kayla Vaughn, Staff Reporters with The Lancaster News
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