Litehouse Inc., one of the largest manufacturers in Bonner County, will complete its much-anticipated expansion of its Ella Avenue facility in Sandpoint on January 31st at 2:00 pm. Local dignitaries, media and those heavily involved in the project will be present when Jim Frank, President & CEO of Litehouse cuts the formal ribbon to signify the completion of the project. The expansion underscores Litehouse’s commitment to and investment in the Sandpoint community and Bonner County.
The $6.2 million 26,000 sq. ft. expansion brings to the facility a new cooler, a shipping and receiving center, loading docks, updated employee break rooms and facilities and a 4,000 sq. ft. wastewater treatment facility. The new cooler will add roughly 1350 new refrigerated pallet locations as well as approximately 150 freezer pallet locations. Litehouse has grown to be the No. 1 refrigerated salad dressing brand across the U.S. and Canada1 and to support our growth, Litehouse chose in 2016 to improve the capacities of our local facilities and invest in improving our production capabilities locally.
“The Ella facility is an integral part of our company history,” States Jim Frank, President & CEO of Litehouse. “We are proud of the improvements to the facility and plan to use the innovations to better meet the needs of an ever changing consumer demand.” The most important thing for Litehouse is to always put the consumer first and to produce a delicious, top quality and best value product. Millennials now hold the largest purchasing power in the US making up 25% of the population and holding $600+ billion in spending power.2 Today’s consumer expects higher standards in products and ingredients and greater transparency from the brands that they purchase more than any other generation prior. Litehouse is the brand perfectly aligned to meet that need and plans to use the new production capabilities to grow the brand.
“We realize this expansion has been trying for the neighborhood and community surrounding our facility during our year of construction,” Frank also states. “Please allow me to extend to you a sincere appreciation of your patience on behalf of the Litehouse team and it is with great pleasure that I can formally announce to you the completion of our project. Thank you for your support of a Litehouse expansion in the Sandpoint community!”
About Litehouse, Inc.
Litehouse, Inc. started in the Hope, Idaho restaurant of the Hawkins family over 50 years ago. Since that time, it has become the leader in refrigerated salad dressings, dips, sauces, herbs, and cheese, manufacturing these delicious products at its three U.S. facilities based in Michigan, Utah and Idaho. Litehouse offers its diverse portfolio of products through general retail, e-commerce, foodservice, deli, member stores, and value-added goods where Litehouse products are featured in meal and salad kits. Litehouse is proud to be 100% employee-owned and each one of the employee owners carries on the high standards of quality and innovation. For more information, visit www.LitehouseFoods.com, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.
- IRI Total US MULO and Nielsen Homescan
- Source: IBISWORLD January 2017
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