Huhtamaki Expansion Complete: Ribbon Cutting Marks $85M Milestone

Huhtamaki, the Finnish global packaging company, celebrated the ribbon cutting on its completed 400,000 square-foot expansion at 800 West Center Street in Paris, Texas, on June 3, 2026. The ceremony, reported by MyParisTexas, marked the official completion of a project that began with a groundbreaking in December 2023 and has since delivered one of the largest private-sector capital investments in Lamar County history.

The expansion has increased Huhtamaki's Paris facility footprint to support its folding carton production for North American quick-service restaurant customers. The $85 million investment has added 80 new manufacturing positions to the local economy, bringing the facility's total workforce well above its prior headcount and establishing Paris as a significant node in Huhtamaki's North American manufacturing network.

From announcement to completion

The project timeline reflects both the scale of the investment and the logistical complexity of expanding an active manufacturing facility. Groundbreaking occurred in December 2023, with initial production from the expanded facility reported to have begun in early 2025. The June 2026 ribbon cutting served as the formal celebration of the project's full completion, with all phases of construction, equipment installation, and workforce ramp-up now finalized.

During the construction phase, the project sustained hundreds of construction jobs and generated significant local spending on materials, labor, and support services. With the facility now fully operational, the 80 permanent manufacturing positions provide the ongoing economic impact — payrolls, benefits, and worker spending — that transforms a construction project into a lasting economic asset.

What the completion means for Paris

A completed expansion is qualitatively different from a planned one. When a global manufacturer breaks ground, it signals intent. When it cuts the ribbon, it confirms follow-through. The completion of Huhtamaki's expansion demonstrates that Paris can support the execution of major industrial projects — from permitting and workforce recruitment through construction and operational ramp-up. That track record matters when the next company evaluates Lamar County for an expansion or relocation.

The completed facility also generates ongoing demand for local services: maintenance contractors, logistics providers, food service, workforce housing, and professional offices. The 80 new workers and their families are permanent participants in the Paris economy, spending wages at local businesses, purchasing homes, and supporting the commercial ecosystem that sustains property values throughout the community.

The manufacturing base grows stronger

Huhtamaki's completed expansion joins Rodgers Wade's manufacturing growth, Fusion Manufacturing's new agricultural equipment facility, and the broader industrial base as evidence that Paris is not just maintaining its manufacturing sector — it is expanding it. Each completed project adds to the community's track record, making the next recruitment effort easier and the next capital commitment more likely.