KENT, Wash. -- Oberto Brands, a leading all-natural jerky meat snacks company, plans to improve its operating efficiency by expanding capacity at its Kent, Wash., facility through the enhancement of existing lines and installation of new jerky-making equipment, the company said.
The move will create more jobs in Washington over the coming years, said the company.
As part of this process, the company will sell its facility in Albany, Ore., and will discontinue its manufacturing operations in Nashville, Tenn., by April 2016.
“While it is always difficult to consolidate manufacturing facilities, we are thrilled to be expanding our capabilities in Kent,” said Jason Blake, senior vice president of operations for Oberto. “With these changes, we will dedicate more resources to quality improvements and technology upgrades. Additionally, having all manufacturing operations under the same roof as our R&D lab will lead to increased innovation and business growth.”
In addition to marketing the Oberto and Pacific Gold brands, Oberto is also a leader in private-label jerky manufacturing, meeting the needs of major national retailers.
“All of Oberto’s products are proudly manufactured in the U.S., requiring us to continually look for efficiency opportunities to help mitigate fluctuating costs,” said Tom Hernquist, Oberto president and CEO.
“While we are excited about the new opportunities ahead, a decision like this is never easy. I want to emphasize our appreciation for the support and dedication our Nashville employees and the community have shown since we began operations there. I promise we will do everything to ensure a smooth transition.”
The decision to discontinue operations in Nashville affects 82 employees. Oberto is actively providing transition assistance.
Family-owned Oberto Brands was founded by Constantino Oberto in 1918. The Kent, Wash.-based company’s brands, including Oberto All-Natural Jerky, “Oh Boy” Oberto Classics, Pacific Gold, and Lowrey’s, can be found in all retail channels and online.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.