MassDevelopment.com: Press Room: Food Manufacturer Expands with MassDevelopment New Markets Equipment Loan

Food Manufacturer Expands with MassDevelopment New Markets Equipment Loan
Project Will Result in Creation of 50 New Jobs in Brockton
March 22, 2007

Contacts:
Alicia Tildsley, MassDevelopment, 617-603-3120
Ed Byers, Custom Blends, Inc., 508-583-2995

MassDevelopment today announced the closing of a $750,000 New Markets Loan for Custom Blends, Inc./Cindy’s Kitchen of Brockton. The company is relocating from its current headquarters on Belmont Street to a larger facility on Industrial Boulevard in Brockton and will use loan proceeds to purchase new equipment that will result in increased production capacity and the creation of 50 jobs – nearly a 100 percent increase in its staff.

"The commercial history of Brockton is deeply rooted in manufacturing," said Robert L. Culver, MassDevelopment president/CEO. "MassDevelopment is pleased to support this company and Brockton’s enduring industrial tradition by providing low-cost financing to Custom Blends, Inc. for its major expansion project."

Custom Blends, Inc. manufactures salad dressings, vinaigrettes, marinades, and dips to sell to wholesale and retail distributors nationwide including well-known supermarkets like Whole Foods, Costco, and Roche Bros. Sold under the company’s own label, "Cindy’s Kitchen – All Natural," the company’s products are all-natural and organic, and many are also available in sugar-free, dairy-free and fat-free varieties.

"While planning our expansion, it was extremely important to Cindy and I that our company continue to operate in Brockton," said Custom Blends, Inc. Owner Ed Byers. He and wife, Cindy, founded the company together in 1986. "This city and our dedicated employees have been critical to the growth and success of our brand for more than 20 years. The financing package provided by MassDevelopment helped us cut costs so we could maintain our location and grow our workforce, while also expanding the scope of our business."

MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development authority, works with businesses, financial institutions and local officials to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. Between FY2004 and FY2006, MassDevelopment financed or managed 589 projects statewide representing an investment of more than $4 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are supporting the creation of 5,505 housing units and more than 23,000 jobs: 12,381 permanent and 10,679 construction-related.