VVF Ltd., of Mumbai, India recently announced that it will purchase the Colgate Palmolive building in Kansas City, Kan., for its North American manufacturing headquarters. The company will purchase the building and equipment for $12 million and plans to invest another $6 million on plant upgrades.

“The Kansas City location offered many benefits,” said Kurussh Amrolia, president of VVF, citing the region’s rail and highway network. “You’re in the middle of the country, and you are business friendly.”

VVF makes soap and shampoo used by hotel chains and produces products for well-known brands such as Johnson & Johnson, Amway and Pfizer. The company plans to hire as many as 60 people with average salaries of about $35,000. Employment is expected to increase 10 to 15 percent each year.

Colgate is currently in the process of shutting down its operations by year end. The plant was established 100 years ago and merged with Palmolive in 1926.

According to local economic development officials, VVF selected the plant in Kansas City over other locations in Arizona, Texas and Canada.

VVF was started in India in 1939, and currently operates seven plants in India, two in the United Arab Emirates and one in Canada.

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