FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Ian Barrie, 616.975.0090
Cole’s Begins Production At New Facility
NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa, February 21, 2007 – Cole’s Quality Foods, Inc., a Grand Rapids-based maker of frozen garlic bread products, announced its new production plant in North Liberty, Iowa is now fully operational and the company is hiring additional employees.
Cole’s previously announced an investment of $15 million to purchase the facility and production equipment. The expansion will create new 60 jobs once hiring is complete.
Cole’s purchased the USDA-grade commercial baking facility in order to fulfill the demand for its popular new mozzarella-filled Cheesesticks. Named as one of the top ten frozen products introduced in 2006, Cheesesticks are now available in both retail and foodservice channels.
“On June 26th we announced plans to significantly expand our production and distribution capabilities with this new facility,” said John Sommavilla, president of Cole’s Quality Foods, Inc. “We are progressing as planned. I’m very pleased with the response and support we’ve received from Priority One, the Iowa City Area Development Group, the City of North Liberty and Kirkwood Community College.“
“It’s very exciting to see an industry leader such as Cole’s Quality Foods become a part of the Cedar Rapids | Iowa City Technology Corridor™,” said Mark Seckman, president of Priority One. “The addition of Cole’s illustrates the continued growth of our region’s food processing cluster. It’s exciting to see this facility now being utilized to its full capabilities by a well established company.”
“Not only have we added a great company with a nationally recognized product line to the region, we’ve had the pleasure of working with a great management team throughout this process,” said Joe Raso, president of Iowa City Area Development Group. “The automation of the North Liberty operation fits perfectly with our region’s focus of attracting and retaining companies that use the most advanced technology within their industry sector.”
Priority One, the economic development division of the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Iowa City Area Development Group assisted Cole’s Quality Foods with its Corridor location efforts. Kirkwood Community College will assist with workforce training needs through the Iowa Industrial New Jobs Training Program.
The economic development partners work cooperatively to promote the Cedar Rapids | Iowa City Technology Corridor region and assist local, national and international businesses with location and expansion efforts and workforce business services.
About Cole’s
Founded in 1943, Cole’s Quality Foods is a privately-held, Michigan-based category leader in frozen bakery products. In 1972, Cole’s invented the first frozen garlic bread and created a category that generates more than $300 million in sales annually. Today, the Company produces a complete line of frozen garlic breads, garlic toasts, garlic breadsticks, Cheesesticks and Pizzasticks. Cole’s is an opportunity driven and adaptable organization that provides “WOW” products. The company employs more than 200 people in Muskegon and Grand Rapids, Michigan and in North Liberty, Iowa.
To learn more about Cole’s, go to the company’s web site at www.coles.com
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