Misionero consolidates operations
Misionero consolidates operations
Misionero Vegetables, a private brand packer focused largely on organic produce, earlier this month consolidated its Monterey County operations under one roof.
Misionero closed its Salinas, CA, processing facility and moved operations under one roof at its nearby Gonzales, CA, facility. When the grower- processor-packager returned from its harvest season in Yuma, AZ, in early April, it moved its equipment to its Gonzales facility.
Dan Canales, former director of sales who on April 3 was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing, said that capacity at Misionero's facility in Salinas was "maxed out."
"This is a good move for us," Mr. Canales said. "We had two separate overheads going on with the two facilities," which constrained Misionero's flexibility to grow as a company.
At its Salinas facility, Misionero had washed and trimmed Romaine, Romaine hearts, green leaf and red leaf for foodservice packs and its "Garden Cuts" retail line. The Gonzales facility was used to pack the company's organic "Earth Greens" salad line and co-pack for other growers' brands, Mr. Canales said.
Mr. Canales replaced Greg Gattis, former vice president of sales and marketing who held the position for many years and is no longer with the company. Other than Mr. Gattis, Mr. Canales said that there were no other layoffs.
"Our Gonzales facility is two or three times the size of our Salinas facility," Mr. Canales said. "It offers an opportunity for growth."
Mr. Canales said that the move to the Gonzales facility enables Misionero to pursue "additional business and additional customers." Prior to the consolidation, customers voiced concern over whether Misionero had the capacity to handle their business, Mr. Canales said.
Mr. Canales said that Misionero started looking into consolidating last fall. He said the company was looking to see "what makes sense to gain efficiencies." Misionero has grown at a "good rate," Mr. Canales said, adding that once the company put its "Garden Cuts" product line into clamshells, the line took off. One of Misionero's more popular products is its organic Romaine leaf in a clamshell.
"We've had good growth over the last few years," he said. "Year over year, we've been growing."
Misionero closed its Salinas, CA, processing facility and moved operations under one roof at its nearby Gonzales, CA, facility. When the grower- processor-packager returned from its harvest season in Yuma, AZ, in early April, it moved its equipment to its Gonzales facility.
Dan Canales, former director of sales who on April 3 was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing, said that capacity at Misionero's facility in Salinas was "maxed out."
"This is a good move for us," Mr. Canales said. "We had two separate overheads going on with the two facilities," which constrained Misionero's flexibility to grow as a company.
At its Salinas facility, Misionero had washed and trimmed Romaine, Romaine hearts, green leaf and red leaf for foodservice packs and its "Garden Cuts" retail line. The Gonzales facility was used to pack the company's organic "Earth Greens" salad line and co-pack for other growers' brands, Mr. Canales said.
Mr. Canales replaced Greg Gattis, former vice president of sales and marketing who held the position for many years and is no longer with the company. Other than Mr. Gattis, Mr. Canales said that there were no other layoffs.
"Our Gonzales facility is two or three times the size of our Salinas facility," Mr. Canales said. "It offers an opportunity for growth."
Mr. Canales said that the move to the Gonzales facility enables Misionero to pursue "additional business and additional customers." Prior to the consolidation, customers voiced concern over whether Misionero had the capacity to handle their business, Mr. Canales said.
Mr. Canales said that Misionero started looking into consolidating last fall. He said the company was looking to see "what makes sense to gain efficiencies." Misionero has grown at a "good rate," Mr. Canales said, adding that once the company put its "Garden Cuts" product line into clamshells, the line took off. One of Misionero's more popular products is its organic Romaine leaf in a clamshell.
"We've had good growth over the last few years," he said. "Year over year, we've been growing."
