Dec. 15--KINSTON -- A fast food packaging company announced today it will expand its Kinston facility and add more than 100 jobs.

Dopaco Inc., a supplier of paper packaging for the fast food industry, plans to invest $25.3 million and add 123 jobs during the next three years, according to a media release.

The expansion was made possible in part by a $200,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.

Dopaco Inc., headquartered in Pennsylvania, supplies paper cups, food trays, pizza boxes and other products for fast-food companies, including McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's.

The company, a subsidiary of Cascades Inc., has six manufacturing facilities in the country, including a plant in Kinston, southwest of Johnston County, that currently employs 204 workers.

In Kinston, Dopaco plans to increase its production of cups, lids and cartons. The average annual wage for the new jobs will be $46,610 not including benefits. The Lenoir County average wage isf $27,040.

The One North Carolina Fund provides financial assistance through local governments to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state.

Other project partners are: the N.C. Department of Commerce, the N.C. Department of Transportation, Lenoir County, Kinston, Lenoir County Committee of 100 and Lenoir Community College.

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