SBEDF Announces $4 Million Domino® Sugar Warehouse Expansion at St. Bernard Port

Domino® Sugar Chalmette Refinery, a staple of the St. Bernard community, is growing its presence in the parish and will utilize space, spur job growth in local area

CHALMETTE, LA – St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation is proud to announce the groundbreaking of a new warehouse space at the St. Bernard Port, Harbor, & Terminal District's Chalmette Terminal that will be leased by American Sugar Refining, Inc. (ASR), a member of ASR Group and operator of the Domino® Sugar Chalmette Refinery.  

The new $4 million facility, located at 521 Bonita Dr., will serve as storage space for the company’s refined and finished sugar products from the refinery located in Arabi. Construction of the 80,000 square foot warehouse will begin in April, with plans to be fully operational by the end of 2022. ASR has already looked to further expand their operation, with the potential for an additional warehouse across the street in the coming years.  

“It’s great to see a business that’s been in St. Bernard for over a hundred years expand operations and consolidate logistics at our facilities,” said Drew Heaphy, Executive Director of the St. Bernard Port.  

The Port, which houses many of the parish’s major corporations, is eager to grow alongside one of St. Bernard’s oldest and largest employers.  

“The St. Bernard Parish community has been incredibly supportive of our operation since we first opened in 1909,” said Paul Wangler, ASR’s Senior Distribution Manager. “Our team is ecstatic to expand Domino® Sugar’s presence in the parish in this new warehouse that will broaden operational capacity.”  

The project will indirectly add 10 permanent jobs in St. Bernard, with up to 150 expected in the second phase of development of the Port’s facilities. ASR’s Domino® Sugar Chalmette Refinery, built in 1909, is the largest sugar refinery in the country and employs more than 400 people.

“This expansion project is a massive triumph for our Parish as we recover from COVID-19 and look to the future development of St. Bernard,” said Meaghan McCormack, Executive Director of the St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation. “We are hopeful for a flurry of logistics and warehouse developments in the coming years that will add quality jobs to the community.” 

Present at the event were (from left) Ted Roche of the St. Bernard Port, Zeljko Franks of Associated Terminals, Sean Warner of Gulf Coast Bank & Trust, Councilwoman Wanda Alcon of St. Bernard Parish District D, Representative Ray Garofalo of Louisiana House District 103, Patrick Meyers Sr. and Patrick Meyers Jr. of Meyers Warehouse, Inc., Paul Wangler of American Sugar Refining, Inc., Drew Heaphy and Harold Anderson of the St. Bernard Port, Harbor, & Terminal District, Meaghan McCormack of the St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation, Thomas Dyer of Kyle Associates, Matt Peace, Brenda Ebel, and Brian Beck of Voelkel McWilliams Construction, and Chris Hnatyshyn of Kyle Associates.

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About St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation
St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation (SBEDF) is the official economic development organization and public-private partnership of St. Bernard Parish formed to create and retain jobs, build prosperity, and improve quality of life. To learn more about SBEDF and how the organization works to foster business attraction, retention and expansion, neighborhood revitalization, small business assistance, and talent and workforce development in St. Bernard Parish, visit sbedf.org.

About St. Bernard Port, Harbor & Terminal District 
St. Bernard Port, Harbor & Terminal District is the economic engine of St. Bernard, providing 18% of the jobs in the parish. Located just five miles downriver from downtown New Orleans, the St. Bernard Port, Harbor & Terminal District boasts Arabi and Chalmette Terminals/Industrial Parks, as well as Meraux and Chalmette Mid-Stream Mooring Facilities. 

About American Sugar Refining, Inc. 
American Sugar Refining, Inc. is a subsidiary of ASR Group International, Inc. (ASR Group), the world’s largest refiner and marketer of cane sugar, with an annual production capacity of more than 6 million tons of sugar. The company produces a full line of grocery, industrial, food service and specialty sweetener products. Across North America, ASR Group owns and operates six sugar refineries, located in Louisiana, New York, California, Maryland, Canada and Mexico. In Europe, the company owns and operates sugar refineries in the United Kingdom, Portugal, and, with a joint venture partner, Italy. ASR Group also farms sugarcane and owns sugar mills in Mexico and Belize. The company’s portfolio includes the leading brands Domino®, C&H®, Florida Crystals®, Redpath®, Tate & Lyle®, Lyle’s® and Sidul®. ASR Group is owned by Florida-based cane sugar producers Florida Crystals Corporation and Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida. ASR Group and its parent companies jointly own Tellus Products, LLC, a maker of single-use, compostable tableware and food-service products from sugarcane fiber. For more information, visit www.ASR-Group.com.