Wisconsin Rapids Facility Expansion Creates 100 New Jobs
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis., Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Ocean Spray today
celebrated the completion of the expansion of its Wisconsin Rapids facility
which doubled the plant's size to 440,000 square feet, making it the
largest cranberry processing plant in the world.
"Ocean Spray is exactly the kind of company we are excited to have here
in Wisconsin," said Governor Jim Doyle. "I am pleased the state is able to
partner with Ocean Spray to expand their facility in Wisconsin Rapids, and
create 100 jobs for hardworking Wisconsin families."
"The Ocean Spray brand is stronger than ever," said Randy Papadellis,
President and CEO of Ocean Spray. "As we commemorate the expansion of the
Wisconsin Rapids sweetened dried cranberry production plant, we reinforce
Ocean Spray's partnership with the state of Wisconsin and our dedication to
growing more cranberries and creating additional jobs in the Badger State.
If we can build on this partnership and add more cranberries, there could
be even more added expansion and jobs to this facility in the future ...
but we need the fruit."
Ocean Spray invested $75 million, the largest capital investment the
company has made in a manufacturing facility, to add two sweetened dried
cranberry production lines to the Wisconsin Rapids plant. The facility
incorporates some of the latest technologies in energy and environmental
efficiency, bringing the total incremental investment in the facility to
over $90 million during the last three years. These include a wastewater
treatment facility, energy-efficient lighting, and an expansion of the
system that converts methane from the Veolia Cranberry Creek Landfill into
clean energy to power the plant. A fully-racked warehouse for both
ingredients and finished goods allows increased storage on a smaller
footprint.
"Ocean Spray's continued investment here demonstrates our commitment to
the great state of Wisconsin," said Ocean Spray's Chairman of the Board
Francis Podvin, an attorney and lifelong resident of Wisconsin Rapids.
"With the talented and dedicated people at this plant and the local grower
community, we will continue to strengthen our brand and focus our resources
on innovation, creativity and creating additional demand for our products.
I am filled with pride by the spirit of economic growth and the
anticipation of additional agricultural expansion in this area."
Consumer demand for Ocean Spray sweetened dried cranberries continues
to increase. Global demand for Ocean Spray sweetened dried cranberries has
doubled over the last three years and is expected to double again over the
next three. Currently, Ocean Spray sweetened dried cranberries are featured
as ingredients in more than 1,000 different grocery, bakery and dairy
products internationally.
"Ocean Spray is a terrific partner and friend of Wisconsin Rapids,"
said Mayor Mary Jo Carson. "This expansion brings with it not only a modern
and energy efficient manufacturing facility but good jobs for our
neighbors."
The 125,000 square foot expansion houses patented state-of-the-art
technology to manufacture sweetened dried cranberries for ingredient
customers and for consumers under the CRAISINS(R) brand. One line is up and
running. When both production lines are operational by March, 2009, the
plant will have the capacity to produce more than 30 million pounds of
sweetened dried cranberries per year for Ocean Spray.
About Ocean Spray:
Ocean Spray is an agricultural cooperative owned by more than 600
cranberry growers in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Oregon,
Washington, British Columbia, and other parts of Canada as well as more
than 50 Florida grapefruit growers. Ocean Spray was formed more than 75
years ago by three cranberry growers from Massachusetts and New Jersey.
Florida grapefruit growers joined the Cooperative in 1976. Ocean Spray is
North America's leading producer of canned and bottled juices and juice
drinks, and has been the best-selling brand name in the canned and bottled
juice category since 1981. Ocean Spray posted fiscal 2007 revenues of
roughly $1.7 billion.
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