Sports-nutrition company could invest $17 million, create hundreds of jobs in Bullitt County

SEE CORRECTION AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE

A sports nutrition company that specializes in sports protein drinks and supplements is considering an expansion into Bullitt County that could create 350 jobs over a 15-year period.

Cend International Ltd., based in England, produces nutrition products for bodybuilders and sports enthusiasts. It received preliminary approval for $2.6 million in state tax incentives from the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority during its monthly meeting in Frankfort Tuesday morning.

According to the KEDFA filing, the company is considering the establishment of a production facility in Bullitt County for its Cend LLC subsidiary.

Jack Mazurak, communications director for the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, said Cend plans to take warehouse space at 1510 Cedar Grove Road in Shepherdsville.

Cend has projected its total local investment to be $17.2 million, which would entail $13.4 million in rental costs, $3 million in equipment and $800,000 in building improvements and startup costs, the filing stated.

Cend International is owned by European internet retailer The Hut Group and is Europe’s top online sports nutrition retailer, according to the filing.

I have contacted the company for comment on the project but have not heard back.

Based on Cend’s wage projections, the company would create 55 jobs upon opening and would have 350 employees in Bullitt County by its fourth year of operation.

Those jobs are projected to pay an average hourly wage of $15, including benefits, according to the filing.


CORRECTION

An earlier version of this story reported that Cend LLC was considering Louisville, not Bullitt County, for its distribution and production facility, based on information in the KEDFA documents.

Source: bizjournals.com