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Food Company Nestlé To Begin Shipping Out Of Jacksonville

Peter Haden
/
WJCT

Starting soon, the Nestlé food company will begin shipping its Puerto Rico exports out of JAXPORT.

Florida Governor Rick Scott announced the company’s shift to Jacksonville’s port Monday in California. Scott met with Nestlé reps while on a trade mission there.

According to a statement from Scott’s office, Nestlé expects to increase exports to Puerto Rico by at least 400 percent over the next six months. The company currently ships to the U.S. territory from ports in New York and New Jersey.

Scott credits Florida’s low taxes and large investment in its ports for the new business.

Nestlé USA is the umbrella company for dozens of brands, including Toll House cookies, Butterfinger candy bars and Hot Pockets frozen snacks.

Jessica Palombo supervises local news gathering and production, podcasts and web editorial content for WJCT News, ADAPT and Jacksonville Today. She is an award-winning writer and journalist with bylines including NPR, Experience Magazine, and The Gainesville Sun. She has a master’s degree in broadcast and digital journalism from Syracuse University and is an alumna of the University of Florida. A nearly lifelong resident of Jacksonville, she considers herself lucky to be raising her own children in her hometown. Follow Jessica Palombo on Twitter: @JaxJessicaP