Kreamer Feed Receives $2.5 Million RACP Grant to Support Growth Efforts

Kreamer Feed, a family-owned animal feed business in Snyder County, has received a $2.5 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant from the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget. These funds will support Kreamer Feed’s plan to add additional space for administrative, warehousing, and eCommerce operations.

“Grants like this are incredibly impactful,” says Jason Robinson, president of Kreamer Feed. “I’ve watched other companies grow through grants, and have seen their industries and regions grow with them. It is an investment. The fact that the state thought so highly of us as to entrust us with this investment means so much to me – and to the company.”

Kreamer Feed already makes a difference in the Snyder County community and is set to hire additional long-term employees through this expansion project. Its 80-year history in Central Pennsylvania reflects both the region's past and its bright future. 

Kreamer Feed has customers in 49 states

Kreamer Feed sells both commercial and retail poultry and livestock feed. It supports every operation from major farms to individual families raising a few chickens for eggs. Its organic products have grown in popularity in the past few decades as Kreamer Feed expanded from a regional to a national brand, Nature’s Best Organic Feeds.

“A decade or so ago, we shipped to customers within an eight-hour driving radius,” says Robinson. “Now we ship anywhere in the United States. Our only holdout is Alaska, and we’re definitely open to working with customers there.”

Kreamer Feed is proud to cater to more than just chicken farmers. It creates diets for various animals, whether they have hooves, paws, or claws. The Robinson family is proud to give Kreamer Feed products to their own animals

“If they're great products for our personal animals, they're ideal for yours,” says Robinson.  

The RACP enables Kreamer’s growth plans

The national reach and diverse product offerings have fueled Kreamer Feed’s need for growth. More customers are ordering online and requiring national shipping, and the company plans to use the RACP funds to add a warehouse, expand its eCommerce capabilities, and move its administrative teams back under the same roof.

The expansion project is expected to take about 36 months to complete. Kreamer feed is still in the planning phase, mapping out various warehouse and facility layout options.

“We actually used to own the land we just bought for our expansion plans,” says Robinson. “But we’re in growth mode right now. We want to maximize the space and utilize the land in the best way possible.”

Kreamer Feed currently has around 80 employees and will be hiring once the expansion efforts wrap up. The company will need everything from entry-level warehouse workers to more advanced roles.

Robinson had followed the RACP grants for a while and thought this project would be a great fit for the funds.

“I said if we ever do a big project, we should at least consider if we can meet the standards and have a productive outcome,” he says.

By applying for and receiving the RACP grant, expansion becomes possible, enabling job creation and a greater economic impact on the Snyder County community. 

It’s an old company embracing a new era 

Kreamer Feed strikes a healthy balance between embracing modern business practices and staying true to its roots. For example, while the business embraces e-commerce, it still refuses to install an automated phone system to sort calls.

“When you call us, you won’t talk to an AI robot; someone from our team will pick up the phone and answer your questions,” says Robinson. “That’s what you’d expect from a business 40 years ago, but we still do it because it’s best for our customers – not because we’re 40 years behind.”

Robinson adds that the company has reinvented itself in the past decade. It has many of the same processes as when it first opened 80 years ago, but embraces technology and new opportunities when they make sense.

“We’re an industry leader and were one of the first feed companies to embrace organic products,” he adds. “In many things, if we aren’t the first adopters, then we’re usually very early.”

This expansion will allow Kreamer Feed to continue offering premium products and elite customer service, while providing enough capacity to keep up with demand. This growth will create jobs in Snyder County and allow Kreamer Feed to continue to be a leader in the community through scholarships, donations, and direct volunteer involvement. 

Meet the communities supported by DRIVE

Snyder County is one of five total counties assisted by DRIVE. The organization is an economic development driver in Central Pennsylvania, connecting companies with other organizations and resource partners. Read more about the work DRIVE does and how it can help your organization. Whether you are new to the region or ready to grow, our team can support you. Contact us today, and let’s learn about your plans.