South-central Indiana’s agricultural and food processing footprint just got a major boost.
Grillo’s Pickles recently cut the ribbon on its brand-new, $54 million production facility in Bartholomew County. Located at 10990 Hubler Drive in Taylorsville, the massive 155,000-square-foot plant marks a monumental leap for the cult-favorite refrigerated pickle brand—and a slam dunk for local economic development.
For a region long celebrated for its proud agricultural heritage and manufacturing prowess, the arrival of Grillo’s signals a thriving evolution in how local and regional supply chains connect farm to fridge.
Cultivating Growth in Bartholomew County
What started humbly in 2008 as a 100-year-old family recipe sold out of a wooden pushcart on Boston Common has exploded into a household name. As one of the top refrigerated pickle brands in the nation, Grillo’s relies heavily on a “made cold, shipped cold, sold cold” model that keeps its spears, chips, and “Pickle de Gallo” fresh without the use of artificial preservatives.
To keep pace with skyrocketing national demand, the company needed a centralized Midwestern home. They found it right off the Interstate 65 corridor along U.S. 31 in Taylorsville, which is also just a few miles from Edinburgh in nearby Johnson County.
“This facility represents a major milestone for Grillo’s Pickles as demand for our refrigerated pickles continues to grow nationally,” said Adam Kaufman, President and CEO of Grillo’s Pickles, during the grand opening ceremony. “This investment will help us fulfill demand without compromising quality or freshness, which is a non-negotiable for us.”
Strengthening the Local Ag-Food Sector
The massive capital investment is expected to inject high-paying jobs into the region, ultimately bringing 150 new positions to Bartholomew County. According to the Greater Columbus Economic Development Corporation, these advanced production and logistics roles feature an estimated average hourly wage of $25.57.
Beyond immediate employment, the project highlights south-central Indiana’s growing gravity as a powerhouse hub for food and agriculture manufacturing. The Grillo’s facility is a cornerstone of a larger planned agricultural and food processing campus spearheaded by parent company Irresistible Foods Group (IFG). Sister company King’s Hawaiian is also slated to build an adjacent 300,000-square-foot bakery facility nearby, bringing total projected regional investments to nearly $230 million.
With multiple production lines already up and running—and more scheduled to roll out over the next year to 18 months—the facility has plenty of room to expand alongside the brand’s rapid trajectory.
As Grillo’s scales up operations in its new Hoosier home, the message to local job seekers and agricultural advocates alike is clear: Bartholomew County is primed and ready to produce more pickles to help feed the nation.
For more information on open positions ranging from entry-level production to maintenance engineering at the Taylorsville plant, visit Grillos.com/careers.
