PRESS RELEASE
| For Immediate
Release
Monday, May 19, 2008 |
Contact:
Noel LaBine
763-477-3086 |
Bernatello's
in Maple Lake hosts Partnership
Board of Directors meeting.
Started
originally in Annandale as Bernie's Pizza, Bernatello's
Pizza moved into Norwood Young America for awhile, before
finally building its main plant in the Maple Lake Industrial
Park on Congress Street in 1985. Today there are two automated
lines running two shifts and about 135 people working at
their 50,000 square foot facility. They make 92,000 pizzas
a day. During their busy season they work six days a week.
Plant
Manager, Jim Cousin, explained that basically the Pizza
market is a recession proof industry. More optimism abounds
at the Maple Lake Pizza processing facility these days,
because recently they have found new markets, which include
Costco and the Canadian market. The combination of these
two markets should result in a rapid expansion of the current
production facility. The company systematically adds robotic
equipment to streamline the packaging process, and as a
way to keep their plant competitive.
Bernatello's
depends upon the quality workers in the local labor force
to help them make their product, and they are always interested
in looking at applications from conscientious, reliable
citizens in the community.
On
Friday, May 16, 2008, Bernatello's Pizza hosted the Wright
County Economic Development Partnership's bi-monthly board
meeting. After the meeting, members of the group that toured
the processing facility included: Tom Dobson of Annandale
State Bank, Linda Hruby from the City of Maple Lake, Noel
LaBine of the Partnership, Mike Melton , Scott Johnson of
Excel Energy, and Marc Weigle from the City of St. Michael.
The Wright County
Partnership wishes to express their gratitude that such
a robust industry is located in Wright County . Thank
you to Bernatello's for their continued progress making
quality pizza.
The Partnership
exists to enhance the business climate of Wright County
and help create more jobs in Wright County . The strategies
the Partnership uses to achieve its mission include being
an information resource and finding technical assistance;
aiding business development through Business Retention
& Expansion visits, providing financing resources,
and providing business information and training through
seminars and workshops. Also, the Partnership markets
Wright County to business site locators, and maintains
an excellent website, which includes a listing of commercial
and industrial property available in Wright County (see
www.wrightpartnership.org
). The Partnership also assists with Workforce Development
and has gathered economic statistical information, which
is available on its website.
