Charles and Alice staff with Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary George Greig, who had the honors of cutting the ribbon marking the company’s grand opening in Lancaster County.

Department of Agriculture Secretary George Greig and Department of Community and Economic Development Deputy Secretary Wilfred Muskens today joined Charles & Alice Group and local officials to officially open the French-based company’s first processing site in the United States.

The Lancaster County facility will add at least 50 new jobs over the next three years.

Today Charles & Alice cut the ribbon on a leased 55,000-square-foot site in East Hempfield Township which will serve as its first processing site in the United States. The company invested more than $10 million in leasehold improvements, new machinery and equipment at the site. The company will add at least 50 new jobs within the next three years. Charles & Alice will also work with Lancaster-based distributor, Hess Brother’s Fruit Company as their apple supplier for their products.

The project was coordinated by DCED’s Office of International Business Development (OIBD) in collaboration with the Governor’s Action Team, Lancaster County Economic Development Corporation, PA Department of Agriculture and the Team Pennsylvania Foundation.

Charles & Alice is a food company headquartered in France and is one of the leading manufacturers of apple sauce in Europe. The company specializes in ready-to-eat, healthy food products such as squeezable apple sauce pouches. In 2000, Charles & Alice launched in France the first range of apple sauces with no added sugar, developing an unequaled expertise in bringing healthy and tasty food to consumers. The company has been exporting to the U.S. market since 2008.

In March 2012, Team PA led a delegation of business, tourism, university leaders, and economic development partners on a mission to France and Germany to open new doors for economic growth and job creation and to keep Pennsylvania at the forefront of international business development. While in Lyon, France, officials met with Charles & Alice to discuss opportunities in Pennsylvania.