| Entenmann’s to Open Major Distribution Center Near Pittston |
|
|
|
|
(July 1, 2007 - Jenkins Township, PA) - One of America’s largest baked goods companies will soon join the growing list of major national and international companies that have opened new facilities in the CenterPoint Commerce and Trade Park East near Pittston.Jen
Entenmann’s, part of the George Weston Limited family of companies, will soon occupy a 144,000 SF industrial facility now under construction in the park. The building will serve as the company’s northeast U.S. distribution hub and will be leased from developer Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services. Entenmann’s will operate a multi-shift 24/7 operation and expects to employ 80 to 90 shipping and receiving workers. A late August start-up date is planned. The company was started by William Entenmann, son of a German baker, in the late 1800s. He delivered fresh baked breads, rolls and cakes door to door by horse and carriage. Entenmann opened his first U.S. bakery in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn in 1898. Several generations of the Entenmann’s family operated the growing business and in 1961 William Entenmann’s three grandchildren built in Bay Shore, Long Island what is still considered the largest baking facility of its kind in the United States. Over the years Entenmann’s has manufactured more than 780 million doughnuts and baked more than 700 million loaves of bread. Since 1974 the company has baked more than 620 million of its trademark chocolate chip cookies. George Weston Limited is a Canadian public company founded in 1882 and through its operating subsidiaries constitutes one of North America’s largest food processing and distribution groups. In addition to Entenmann’s, some of George Weston’s most well known brands include Arnold, Boboli, Brownberry, Dutch Company, Freihofer’s, Stroehmann and Thomas. Entenmann’s becomes the latest well-known company to join the fast growing list of new tenants in CenterPoint. Other park companies include FedEx Ground, The Men’s Wearhouse, Lowe’s and Lyon, Conklin & Company. The Entenmann’s facility is located on 13.6 acres along Capital Road in the Jenkins Township section of the park. Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services is the largest full-service commercial real estate company in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Headquartered in Plains Township near Wilkes-Barre, Mericle has developed more than 12 million square feet of bulk warehouse, manufacturing, flex and office space since its founding in 1986. The company is currently constructing four speculative industrial buildings totaling 1.1 million square feet at Center Point, all of which will be ready for tenants by the end of 2007. By that time there will be eight buildings encompassing more than 3.5 million square feet in the new park Mericle Vice President Dan Walsh, who coordinated the project for the developer, said Entenmann’s commitment to the park verifies the decision made by Mericle to invest heavily into the Greater Pittston area. “Entenmann’s stamp of approval is priceless,” said Walsh. “We are confident that other national companies will view Entenmann’s decision as confirmation that CenterPoint is an exceptional location for distribution and industrial activities. We are very pleased to welcome Entenmann’s into our real estate portfolio.” Lew Sebia, Mericle’s Chief Operating Officer, said the quick success of the park is a direct result of the tremendous cooperation received from a variety of state and local officials. “This park is fast becoming the premier business destination in Northeast Pennsylvania largely because of the vision of Governor Ed Rendell and the support we have received from the Commonwealth Financing Authority and the PA Department of Community and Economic Development,” said Sebia. Senators Ray Musto and Robert Mellow have also been great supporters of this project as have the Luzerne County Commissioners, the Pittston Area School District, Jenkins and Pittston Townships and the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce. Persons seeking employment with Entenmann’s are asked to apply in person at the Pennsylvania Career Link, 32 East Union Street, Wilkes-Barre. - 30 -
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: |