2 Long Island supplement makers plan $25M in expansions, add 75 jobs

Two makers of vitamins, dietary supplements and over-the-counter medicine plan to spend nearly $25 million on expansion projects in Suffolk County to boost production while hiring an additional 75 workers.

Gemini Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Commack and Commerce Drive LLC in Hauppauge won preliminary approval last week from the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency for a combined $2.8 million in tax breaks over 10 or 15 years, depending on the company.

Gemini and Commerce Drive are members of Long Island’s pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry, which employs more than 10,000 people — making it the largest component of the manufacturing sector, according to a 2019 report by the IDA and the Albany-based training organization Workforce Development Institute.

“Suffolk County is a hub for this kind of manufacturing activity, and we want to help these companies to invest in their operations, to add jobs,” Kelly Murphy, the IDA’s CEO and executive director who worked on the report, said in an interview after the agency’s monthly board meeting.

Producing probiotics

Gemini wants to buy 81 Modular Ave. in Commack for use as a warehouse and for production of probiotics, which aid in digestion. The 30,444-square-foot building would be the company’s fourth location in Suffolk and is adjacent to the headquarters at 87 Modular Ave.

Gemini also plans to add a research laboratory at 65 Mall Dr., also in Commack, and connect 55 Adams Ave. in Hauppauge to the municipal sewer system.

The price tag for the additional building and improvements to the other Gemini facilities is $13.9 million.

“Everything that we’re doing is [meant] to bring higher paying, science-backed jobs here,” said Michael Finamore, CEO of the second-generation family-owned company.

Gemini proposes adding at least 50 jobs within two years to its workforce of 257. The new positions would pay $53,200 per year, on average, according to an application for IDA assistance.

In return, the company would receive a sales tax exemption of up to $495,750 on the purchase of construction materials and equipment, plus $1.6 million off property taxes over 15 years.

Finamore, responding to a question from IDA board member Brian Beedenbender, said the expansion project would begin “right away” and be completed by September 2027. 

A second building

Commerce Drive owns supplement sellers Futurebiotics LLC and Bronson Nutritionals LLC and their manufacturer FB Laboratories.

Together, the three businesses are projected to have revenue of nearly $100 million this year and 120 employees, according to their attorney, Andrew D. Presberg.

The businesses are headquartered at 70 Commerce Dr. in Hauppauge. They plan to buy the adjacent 120 Commerce Dr. for use as a warehouse, freeing up space in 70 Commerce Dr. for more production.

“My client needs to increase his manufacturing lines,” Presberg said, referring to Commerce Drive owner Saiful Kibria.

The $10.7 million project would add 25 jobs to the company’s workforce within two years. The new positions would pay between $52,400 and $62,130 per year, on average, according to the IDA application.

In return, Commerce Drive would receive a sales tax exemption of up to $30,600 on the purchase of construction materials and equipment, plus $701,500 off property taxes over 10 years.

Presberg said the tax breaks “are absolutely necessary to make [Commerce Drive's] project successful” given the $9.4 million purchase price for 120 Commerce Dr. The latter may be torn down in the future and replaced with a new building, he said.