Tissue paper plant Sofidel invests $185 million to expand Circleville campus

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Sofidel, a leading manufacturer of toilet paper, is expanding its footprint in Circleville.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine attended the groundbreaking ceremony Thursday.

"This company is growing and it’s really symbolic of what is happening in Ohio today," DeWine said. "It has an impact on the whole community. Whether it’s restaurants or other businesses. Jobs breed more jobs and create more jobs."

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In 2016, Sofidel broke ground on its first building located on 280 acres in Circleville along State Route 23. At the time, the company committed to employing 300 Ohioans. Last year, it announced plans to expand in Pickaway County and under that proposed expansion, the number of employees could grow to nearly 600.

"It’s allowed our folks to stay local," Pickaway County Commissioner Jay Wippel said.

Wippel said Sofidel was an answer to the county's economic development efforts.

"In the 1990s we started losing manufacturing companies here," Wippel said. "Those were thousands of jobs that went away. We were really in a rut of not being able to offer opportunities for employment in this county. We hit bottom and we had to come up. And we are very fortunate to have been able to do that."

The tissue paper manufacturer from Italy first established operations in the United States in 2012. It was in Ohio where the company found incredible success.

Since opening its facility in 2018, Sofidel said production has nearly tripled. A toilet paper shortage during the Coronavirus pandemic led to an increase in demand for products manufactured at Sofidel.

Due to the increase in demand, the company chose Ohio to invest an additional $185 million that would allow the company to expand its facility by 500,000 square feet at its Circleville campus. The expansion will allow employment to grow by 100 people.

"This place changed my life forever," Sofidel machine operator Nathan Rinehart said. "I was working at Walmart before this and then someone took a chance on me here. Every day there is a different challenge. But it's brought a lot of jobs. Circleville is growing."

Sofidel's CEO, Luigi Lazzareschi travelled from Italy for Thursday's groundbreaking and said he was amazed by all the changes in Circleville.

"The first time I was in this area was 10 years ago," Lazzareschi said. "I am amazed on the improvements of infrastructure and new housing and companies that have settled here in this area."

Other Columbus leaders at Thursday's groundbreaking noting the positive economic domino effect Sofidel has had.

"As I drove down today, I saw dozens of small businesses that did not exist before this site was selected," President and CEO of Columbus Partnership Kenny McDonald said.

Sofidel has said it chose the 280-acre site in Circleville based on its accessibility to underground water resources, and natural and affordable utilities. The company added that a skilled workforce was another reason it chose Circleville.

Sofidel said it expects construction to be completed by Aug. 2025.