LAKELAND | Doughnuts and distribution centers are among the new projects in Lakeland business this year.

The Lakeland Economic Development Council touted a variety of new businesses and expansions during the group’s annual breakfast on Wednesday, but one short, sweet announcement stole the show: Krispy Kreme is coming.

LEDC director Steve Scruggs says the North Carolina-based doughnut maker plans to open a Lakeland store at a former BP station on South Florida Avenue near the Imperial Swan hotel. It will be the only Krispy Kreme in Polk County and should open in September, Scruggs said.

Wednesday’s event, held at Southeastern University, drew a crowd of roughly 300 people. The day’s major announcements included:

Premier Transportation, a Georgia-based distributor for major retailers, is expanding to Lakeland. Mike Medici, Premier’s president, said the firm has leased a 70,000-square-foot space on Pipkin Road and initially will have more than 45 employees. Premier will mainly be serving Marshalls and T.J. Maxx clothing stores in Florida.

“We are going to create a substantial amount of jobs,” Medici said. “This is a big project for us. We’re here to stay, we’re here to expand.”

Whitlock Packaging, owner of the Juice Bowl plant in Lakeland, will be adding a high-tech bottling line and at least 32 employees to its operations (it has 125 employees currently). Officials said the new bottling line is being added to service a contract with Nestle and Ocean Spray.

R. Bart Lewis, human resources director at Juice Bowl, said Whitlock has a 10-year agreement to manufacture Nestle and Ocean Spray products, producing some 12 million cases per year. “We’re excited to grow, especially in this economy,” Lewis said.

Ta Chen International is relocating local operations from Davenport to Lakeland.

The Taiwanese company, which makes specialty metal and pipe products, has leased 140,000 square feet at First Park at Bridgewater and employs more than 20 people in Davenport. Officials said they plan to relocate in October or November.

A University of South Florida Polytechnic professor and director gave details on his own high-tech venture.

Jean-Pierre Emond, who joined USF Poly three months ago as head of the Division of Technology and Innovation, is also the owner of Blueye LLC. The Lakeland-based company develops technology used in transporting temperature-sensitive products such as food and pharmaceuticals. Blueye has worked on “smart” refrigerated containers that can be remotely checked for temperature and security. Emond said Blueye’s containers have been used to transport the H1N1 vaccine and other medical products.

Last but not least, Scruggs said the empty movie theater at Merchants Walk in South Lakeland finally has a new tenant. The Oklahoma-based Hobby Lobby retail chain has acquired the theater space and will be doing an extensive rebuild for a new store.

For more information, please contact Kyle Kennedy at The Ledger.