Sugar Free Specialties, manufacturer of sugar-free nutritional candy under the Dr. John’s brand, is expanding in Plainfield Township, Mich., investing $2.3 million and creating 50 jobs.  

 

The company was started by Dr. John Bruinsma and his wife Debra, a dentist and hygienist team that wanted to offer their patients a better tasting sugar-free treat at their dental office. 

 

Sugar Free Specialties is experiencing growing demand and plans to purchase an existing 25,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing facility in Plainfield Township. 

 

Michigan was chosen for the expansion over a competing site in Indiana, and the company is working with the Michigan Strategic Fund and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Specifically, the company has been awarded a $250,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. 

 

“We were considering sites for our second manufacturing facility in neighboring Indiana as well as overseas, and we were very impressed by the technical, personnel and financial resources that the MEDC made available to us. They assured us that Michigan was the right place to do business and they put action behind their words,” said Sugar Free Specialties President and CEO Michael McDonald.

 

Jeff Mason, ceo of MEDC, the state’s chief marketing and business attraction arm that administers programs and performs due diligence on behalf of the MSF, says the groups are pleased to work with the company and support the investment.

 

“We look forward to working with this innovative company as it continues to grow and add jobs in Michigan,” he said.