Huhtamaki North America recently said it will open a manufacturing and distribution center in Goodyear, Arizona, to produce food service packaging and retail tableware goods like paper drink cups, food containers and pressed paperboard plates.

"This is a further investment in our strategy to serve the food service packaging and retail tableware markets with core products," Huhtamaki North America Executive Vice President Clay Dunn said. "The new facility will expand our footprint and will build off the success of our earlier expansions. The facility will not only grow our capacity, but improve our distribution capability in the region."

The 750,000-square-foot facility comes with an expected capital investment of $100 million, which Huhtamaki North America will pay over the next two years, with facility use expected to begin in early 2017 and commercial production beginning by the end of 2017. The facility is expected to create approximately 300 jobs.

"I am thrilled that Huhtamaki has selected Arizona as the ideal location to establish a new facility that will advance their business objectives," Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said. "Arizona continues to attract advanced manufacturing companies seeking growth due to our exceptional talent, modern infrastructure and advantageous geographic location. This project will create hundreds of new jobs for Arizona citizens, and I thank Huhtamaki for their investment in our state."