JGB Brothers to open Bamberg plant producing food fibers, create 40 jobs

JGB Brothers LLC, a subsidiary of Poland-based InterFiber, announced plans to establish operations at 66 Innovation Drive in Bamberg County, bringing a $7 million initial investment and 40 new jobs, according to a Jan. 21 press release from the Office of the Governor of South Carolina. Operations are expected to be online in late 2026, and the Coordinating Council for Economic Development awarded a $200,000 Set-Aside grant to the county to assist with building improvements.

The facility will manufacture plant-sourced food fibers used as additives in human and pet food and with applications in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and building materials, the governor’s office said. Local sourcing will play a role: Charleston Business Magazine reports that production will use locally sourced agricultural raw materials, linking the new plant directly to area growers and agribusiness suppliers.

InterFiber executives framed the Bamberg project as the start of a larger program of investment. Jacek Bednarek, president of InterFiber, said in remarks carried by Charleston Business Magazine, “The InterFiber Group proudly announces a groundbreaking milestone, the acquisition of a brand-new manufacturing site in Bamberg, South Carolina. Under this momentous project, we will eventually invest a total of over $36 million covering the acquisition and outfitting of this new facility.” Bednarek also described plans for automation and research capacity: “The new state-of-the-art plant will feature fully robotic production lines, setting new standards for automation, precision and efficiency in food fiber manufacturing. Alongside the plant, we are also planning to establish a modern R&D and Application Center that will serve as a springboard for developing next-generation solutions for the food and pet food industries.”

South Carolina Commerce officials framed the project as a win for both manufacturing and agriculture. “We are proud to welcome JGB Brothers to South Carolina. By investing more than $7 million in its Bamberg County facility, the company will support two of our state’s key industries, manufacturing and agriculture,” noted Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III, as carried by Area Development.

For Bamberg County, the near-term effects are concrete: a modest capital infusion, a county grant for building upgrades, and 40 jobs added to the local payroll. The longer-term picture will hinge on how the company balances automation with local hiring, and on whether InterFiber’s broader investment intentions, the company’s “eventual” $36 million figure, materialize. The combination of robotic production lines and an R&D center suggests many roles may require technical skills, creating opportunities for targeted workforce training.

Market implications include strengthening local supply chains for plant-based inputs and positioning Bamberg as a site for value-added agricultural processing. For residents, that means potential new employment options in manufacturing and applied food science, and a likely uptick in demand for services tied to an expanded plant footprint.

Next steps for county officials and residents will include permitting and building work at 66 Innovation Drive, clarification from InterFiber and JGB Brothers on hiring timelines and wage levels, and coordination with workforce development partners so local jobseekers can compete for the announced positions as construction proceeds toward the late 2026 start-up.