So they started thinking about all the things that can go wrong, even when an entrepreneur has a great idea. With CPG start-ups, one home run can be a lifetime achievement. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world. Stuffed Puffs New Factory Opens in Hot Lehigh Valley Industrial Market Jessica is a SHRM certified professional and holds a bachelors degree in Business Administration and minor in HR Management from Bloomsburg University. We wanted to provide quality manufacturing with innovation in both product and in packaging.. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. We've put in more than $8 million as startup capital.Do you plan to have advertising on the site?Yes, because we have a rich vertical [market] with pet lovers. Well be looking for some more operators, for sure.. She spent the 20 years as facilities and space planning manager at Rodale Inc., where her responsibilities included property management, employee and vendor relations, space planning, and operations support. Its a reason why the Lehigh Valleys manufacturing had an economic output of $8.4 billion, making it the largest contributor to the regions $47 billion gross domestic product, which measures total market value of the goods and services produced in a region over a year. The idea for the company started about a dozen years ago while Tierney was sitting around a campfire with friends on summer break. Ben earned his bachelors degree in business administration from Susquehanna University. In his most recent role at Mars Wrigley, he led a team of four demand planning managers with responsibility for all seasonal and display forecasting. He met Rich while serving on the board American Italian Pasta Company, and also served on the boards of Meow Mix and Freshpet. Prior to Factory, Michael worked at Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Deloitte Corporate Finance and Israel Discount Bank, where he completed both middle market and large cap M&A and capital markets transactions in the Consumer & Retail and Industrials sectors. Managing partner of Factory LLC, Rich Thompson helped create over $3 billion in enterprise value as CEO of American Italian Pasta Co., The Meow Mix Co. and Freshpet, according to his online bio. Rich Thompson, founder and managing partner of Factory LLC, recently started a plant to makes powdered drinks, protein bars and other consumable products. Previously owned a Cessna P210. Rich Thompson - LVB He has deep operational experience across multiple disciplines, having helped build each of these organizations, including marketing and sales, manufacturing, supply chain and distribution, and innovation infrastructure, and he has supervised the design and construction of seven manufacturing facilities. Nobody got COVID here that we know about, and we built this 165,000-square-foot facility.. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. So companies selling cat litter, pet food manufacturers, pet suppliers, vets, groomers and so on are the people who you'd want advertising. Website Design by Klunk & Millan, This error message is only visible to WordPress admins. Since 2003, Business Jet Traveler has been providing subscribers in more than 150 countries with aviation and lifestyle news, reviews, and features. The building is equipped for the production and packaging of powdered drinks, supplements and energy/protein bars. Serving foodservice, in-store bakery, retail, and industrial markets. Before joining Factory, she worked as a photo researcher and editor for a number of magazines, as an archivist for photographers, and as an executive assistant, also at a magazine. Aeoon Technologies GmbH. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. His job responsibilities include managing the Factory team and investments across 12 companies and two manufacturing plants. Our Story - Factory LLC My goal is to own the mindset of people who want to find and share information about pets and meet other pet lovers. She now uses her marketing degree from Penn State University and analytical skills to conduct market and consumer research for our brand partners, including fielding taste tests in our on-site consumer insights lab. in applied science and technical leadership from Bloomsburg University. His plan was to take an idea everyone in the industry said was impossible, develop the intellectual property, and then launch the business nationally right out of the gate, discouraging competition by fast followers.. But if someone comes in with a high enough price-who knows?Speaking of entrepreneurs, how did you become one?I was born an entrepreneur. Del Monte didn't want our office space or employees, so I kept most of the team, about 36 people, and the space, about 20,000 square feet. Rich Thompson, Managing Partner. in accounting from Binghamton University. Pat has been involved with the development of thousands of new products, including over 800 items for the re-launch of Wild Oats Organic, which went from inception to $100M in 18 months. When youre a small company, you cant hire all that expertise, Cunningham said. He has served on the boards of eight manufacturing, marketing, and education companies, including American Italian Pasta, Meow Mix and Freshpet, spent 5 years as a CEO, and has done business in over 50 countries. Rich & Thompson Funeral & Cremation Service - Burlington, NC I looked at his track record of success. The person who helped bring Stuffed Puffs and Freshpet to manufacture their products in the Lehigh Valley is starting another food and beverage operation in the area. degrees in economics and business, civil engineering and environmental science, and, of course, visual communications. All rights reserved. Drummer. Leading $30MM operation comprised of 16 branches and 50+ personnel in central United States, 50% of which realized profit growth in 2003. Stuffed Puffs opened its second facility in Hanover Township, Northampton County, in January 2021. History | MASS MoCA Stuffed Puffs opened a manufacturing facility in 2021 in the Lehigh Valley. She currently serves on the board of directors for Lehigh Valley Roller Derby. Video: Feature-Rich Thompson/Center Compass Rifle - Gun Digest PREVIOUS POSITIONS: CEO and president of The Meow Mix Company, which he bought with JW Childs Associates from Nestle/Purina for $167 million in 2002. Charlie has been cooking professionally for over 20 years. Three months later we were married. The instructor said, "If you're going to fly airplanes, you're going to learn why they fly. I got my pilot's license in June 1967.You said you've had several piston airplanes, but you stopped flying. As a design-focused problem solver, John, a Lafayette graduate, leans on his background with B.S./B.A. Michelle has over 15 years of accounting experience, specializing in accounts payable and general accounting. In his time with the firm, he was responsible for the management of over $3B in invested capital and over $8B in total asset value. As founder and managing partner at Factory LLC, Rich Thompson leads a one-of-a-kind investment company that, in addition to capital, provides strategic guidance to food, beverage and pet. With an economic output of $8.4 billion, manufacturing was the biggest contributor to the Lehigh Valley metro regions GDP in 2021 and employs more than 36,000 people in Lehigh and Northampton counties, making products ranging from Crayola crayons, Mack Trucks and Stuffed Puffs. Rich Thompson, Factory LLC/The: Profile and Biography She works closely with the digital marketing team to create social media graphics, email newsletters, and digital advertisements for Factorys brand partners. Lehigh Valley was among the busiest industrial markets in the nation during the pandemic. I like to do what you see here, because nobody has done it before, said Thompson, claiming Factory is a one-of-a-kind operation in North America in terms of its specific business concept. Amazing work by the Factory Manufacturing team getting our FIRST powder production finished and ready to ship ON TIME and ABOVE GOAL! Shes a versatile photographer who can bring brands to life for ecommerce and social media. Nobody knew what Zootoo was six months before. 10/31/2005 to 07/31/2018. This was not a standard project, Polt said. While at Penn State, he also worked for Happy Valley Vineyard and Winery, where he was tasked with adding potassium metabisulfite to wine, tested the wine for hydrogen sulfide, and performed backsweetening, a process of adding sugar to wine before bottling. He enjoys cooking homestyle favorites and experimenting with new culinary trends equally, which means there are always plenty of delicious lunch options for the Factory team and our guests! Visual Basic .NET Microsoft . He's also an unabashed proponent of business aviation. This guy, Krajsa said of Thompson, knows what he is doing, and he moves at lightning speed.. Her high standards, attention to detail and always-upbeat attitude are valued by everyone on the Factory team. We have innovation partners here and a smart, talented workforce in the Lehigh Valley.. The new building, in Lehigh Valley Industrial Park IV, is equipped to produce and package powdered drinks, supplements and energy/protein bars. Judith Thompson Profiles | Facebook We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Stuffed Puffs is now fully operational and engineering is underway for the second production line. We sold it to Del Monte in 2006. A look inside the Factory LLC, a new business incubator in south Bethlehem at a former Bethlehem Steel factory on Thursday, January 10, 2019. A lot of these guys are working on a company called Freshpet, a new brand of dog food, which is in about 2,500 stores.Where did the idea for Zootoo come from?I just dream this [stuff] up. Tyler has seven years of merchandising experience in retail operations with Giant Food Stores, where he specialized in non-perishables and inventory control. I'm not [planning to sell the 700] until I find something to replace it. Business Jet Traveler is a publication of AIN Media Group, Inc., 214 Franklin Avenue, Midland Park, NJ 07432. Anthony Salamone is a reporter covering general news in Northampton County. Eventually, the scaled-up company could be sold, with its owners, Thompson and his investors earning a profit. Her background in data research and analytics gives her a keen eye for spotting the latest social trends and knack for measuring results. Richard Thompson Factory-LLC.com Thompson helped create over $3 billion in enterprise value as CEO of American Italian Pasta Company, The Meow Mix Company and Freshpet. Richard Thompson has led three emerging companies to exits valued at $3 billion American Italian Pasta Company (which in 15 years grew from a start-up to the second largest pasta manufacturer in the world), Meow Mix and Freshpet. [They wonder], "Why are you having lunch with them?" Python Python Software Foundation . Located in a converted Bethlehem Steel building, Factory includes a team of experienced operators with $250 million of investable capital who acquire meaningful equity stakes in client companies and partner with them to grow. But its not a manufacturing site. All rights reserved. Florida Southern College Hosts Ceo 100 Lecture Series Entrepreneur Just as Freshpet capitalized on devoted pet owners who want refrigerated, fresh food for their cats and dogs, Thompson is looking to do the same for other niche food and beverage companies whose products draw consumers seeking unique products. With the capital to invest, a $10-million renovation of the Columbia Street building and 35 employees, Thompson hopes Factory will attract up to 20 companies. APRIL GAMIZ / THE MORNING CALL, Rich Thompson, Managing Partner, helped create over $3 billion in enterprise value as CEO of American Italian Pasta Company, The Meow Mix Company and Freshpet. Thompson said he left Freshpet, which is based in Secaucus, N.J., partly because of his interest in pursuing this venture. Tim Pollak was CEO of a top-20 global ad agency and vice chairman of two top-5 agencies, Y&R and Dentsu.