It’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time in McCalla: Smuckers opens biggest Uncrustables factory in the country
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey along with Smuckers CEO Mark Smucker cut the ribbon on the company's new $1 billion Uncrustables plant.
It’s a good day for peanut butter and jelly sandwich lovers in Birmingham.
Three years after the Jefferson County Commission announced the largest economic development project in the region, the J.M. Smucker Company’s Uncrustables factory opened in McCalla on Thursday.
The 900,000 square-foot facility represents a more than $1 billion capital investment from Smuckers and is predicted to bring in 750 jobs to the community. Smuckers CEO Mark Smucker cut the ribbon alongside Gov. Kay Ivey.
“Folks, no matter how you slice it, this is a monumental partnership,” Ivey said, eliciting laughter from the audience.
The factory is now one of three Uncrustables facilities making the fruit and peanut butter pocket pastry.
Smuckers staff said Uncrustables is the company’s fastest growing item out of its substantial portfolio of products, including Jif peanut butter and Folgers coffee.
“The decision to have our newest location here in McCalla was one we were very confident in and one we are very pleased with,” Smucker said.
Officials estimated that Uncrustables will become a billion dollar brand by the end of Fiscal Year 2026. Othell Phillips, executive director of the Jefferson County Economic and Industrial Development Authority, called the new facility “a sweet deal” for the region.
When the deal was first announced in 2021, county officials compared the project to development announcements for Honda and Mercedes, although those operations have grown since they first began. Officials added that the $1.1 billion from Smucker is the largest initial investment in the county’s history.
A new biography zeroes in on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s superpower
The secret to his success isn't just genius — it's collaboration a lot of creative friends. Author Daniel Pollack-Pelzner interviewed more than 150 people for his biography about the Hamilton creator.
In 2022, the name ‘monkeypox’ was nixed. Now the U.S. is reviving it
The World Health Organization retired the name "monkeypox" in favor of mpox — since the virus is spread by rodents and small mammals and there's a stigma factor. Why has the U.S. revived "monkeypox"?
The suspect in Charlie Kirk killing has been arrested. Here’s what we know
The suspect has been identified as Tyler Robinson of Utah. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Robinson's family members reached out to a friend, who contacted the Washington County sheriff's office on Thursday.
South Africa reopens inquest into death of Steve Biko
South Africa has reopened the investigation into the death of anti-apartheid leader Steve Biko — 48 years after he was killed in police custody.
Memphis latest city Trump is targeting for federal government actions to combat crime
In an interview Friday morning, President Trump announced Memphis is his next target for federal intervention to combat crime. The president said he has support from Tennessee's governor and Memphis' mayor.
Prince Harry makes surprise visit to Ukraine in support of wounded troops
Britain's Prince Harry has arrived in Ukraine for a surprise visit in support of wounded service members.
