GOODYEAR, Arizona (From the Phoenix Business Journal) -- Finland-based Huhtamaki North America is locating a $100 million, 300-worker food packaging manufacturing plant at a 750,000-square-foot building in Goodyear.

The company makes containers and packaging for food items as well as tableware. The Finnish company also makes Chinet brand plates, cups and plastic cutlery.

Huhtamaki is buying the building from Cohen Asset Management Inc. for $43 million.

The sale still needs to close.

Huhtamaki is locating the production and distribution plant at the Cotton Lane Commerce Park in Goodyear off Interstate 10.

Newmark Grubb Knight Frank brokers Jim Belcher and Robert Stephens represented Huhtamaki in the acquisition of the property.

"Cotton Lane Commerce Park is a superb location for Huhtamaki's new facility, offering rail service and excellent access to the region and Southern California via I-10 and I-8," Stephens said.

Huhtamaki will put $100 million into the Goodyear project. It will serve the Western U.S. including California.

The development totals 102 acres. The company expects production to start in late 2017.

"This is a further investment in our strategy to serve the foodservice packaging and retail tableware markets with core products," said Clay Dunn, executive vice president for Huhtamaki North America. "The new facility will expand our footprint and will build off the success of our earlier expansions. The facility will not only grow our capacity, but improve our distribution capability in the region."

Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey touted the Goodyear site selection.

"I am thrilled that Huhtamaki has selected Arizona as the ideal location to establish a new facility that will advance their business objectives," Ducey said in a statement. "Arizona continues to attract advanced manufacturing companies seeking growth due to our exceptional talent, modern infrastructure and advantageous geographic location."