Green Mountain Coffee  paid a total purchase price in cash of $40.3 million, which was financed through the Company’s existing senior revolving credit facility. The purchase price is subject to an inventory adjustment to be calculated within 120 days of March 27, 2009.

Bookmark to:

Hide Sites

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters announced expansion plans this week that call for more Vermont jobs and the creation of an additional production facility — which will be built beyond the state’s borders, company officials said.

The location has not yet been selected, but it will likely be in one of about six states in the Midwest or the South, CEO Lawrence Blanford said in a phone interview today.

A facility outside Vermont is preferable because it would reduce transportation costs and minimize the Waterbury-based company’s carbon footprint, the CEO said.

Having a production facility in those regions would put Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. within striking distance of large markets such as Florida, Texas, and Chicago, and Washington, D.C., said Jon Wettstein, the roaster’s vice president of supply chain operations.

Expansion plans also include hiring roughly 50 people to work in the company’s two Vermont facilities by the end of the year, Wettstein said. Most of the new hires will work at the Essex plant, which is dedicated to packaging K-Cup coffee for the Keurig coffee machines, the company’s single cup coffeemaker, he said.

The proposed production facility, referred to as “US3” by Blanford, since it would be Green Mountain Coffee’s third plant in the United States, will have a primary function of packaging single-serving k-cups, known as Keurig K-Cups, for the Keurig coffee system.

The functions of the facility — which will begin employing at least 30 people and will quickly grow to more than 100 — will likely broaden overtime, the CEO said.

“We are going to need more roasting  capacity to keep up with the company’s growing demand, Blanford said, noting the proposed facility could begin roasting functions one to two years after opening.

Currently, all of Green Mountain Coffee’s roasting is done in Waterbury.

There are no plans, Blanford and Wettstein said, to shift jobs or operations from the two Vermont facilities to the proposed site.

“We are building US3 on the basis of a North American growth plan —which has the Northeast continuing to grow. I can’t underscore that enough,” the Blanford said, later adding, “We are in hiring mode here in Waterbury and in Essex and I don’t anticipate that going away.”

The bulk of the company’s 1,146 employees work in Vermont. The Essex packaging facility has 101 employees and Waterbury, which serves as the corporate headquarters as well as a roasting and packaging plant, employs 684 people, said company spokeswoman Sandy Yusen.

There are no plans to move the corporate headquarters; the company remains “absolutely committed to Vermont,” the CEO said.

Bookmark to:

Hide Sites

We hope that you will find it in your hearts to join Operation 3 Million Cup Club. it’s a wonderful way to give a little something back to those special men and women who give so much for us.

• My name is Nicole. I’m writing in regards to the coffee you sent to us. This was my first time trying your coffee. I’ve always been a fan of Starbucks. I must say that I think I’ve found a new coffee that I like very much. You don’t know how much this meant to me. Most of the time we as troops feel so alone and even at times scared. But thanks to people like you who help ease the pain just by sending us coffee at your expense, WOW! Please don’t think we take what you’ve done lightly. We were like kids in a chocolate factory when those boxes came…. Most of the time we start drinking coffee due to the cold temperature. Next thing you know it’s a part of your morning/day. Now I will have to try some of your other products. Once again I would like to say thank you from my heart.
• My name is Rick. I have several soldiers that work here for me and I would like for you to know that you have made a difference in many people’s lives. One of my friends in a different unit received a shipment of the coffee that you provided and he it shared with me. I ground some coffee up and had the pot going right away. Many of my soldiers could not believe the great aroma they where smelling. This brought so much joy; it is the little things that we take for granted. We do not have the ability to run down to the corner coffee shop. It was all of you great people that have given us a piece of home….. Serving in the armed services is a pleasure when you know that you belong to the greatest nation in the world. It truly fills my heart as well as the hearts of the soldiers to know that we have your support. Thank you so very much for what each and every one of you do for the soldiers and for your country.
• I just want to thank you, your staff, and your customers for all of the support that you show to the fighting men and women of the United States Military. It really lifts the morale of the service members when they can get a gourmet cup of coffee instead of the Army cup of Joe. The boxes of coffee that you sent were put to good use…[We have] an establishment that was put together for the Soldiers of the unit to be able to get a cup of coffee, water…or whatever type of drink is available. There are also snacks and sometime sandwiches for the Soldiers to eat. They can sit down and enjoy their refreshment and watch a little TV or a movie. Needless to say, the Soldiers are enjoying the coffee that you guys sent and it is much appreciated. Again, thank you for the support and remember, every little bit helps build the morale of the Service men and women that serve over here. — Mark
• Thank you for all the coffee. I just got it this week….I’m the lead physician for our small American contingent. My fellow physicians are Romanians, and their nurses brew me up some strong coffee every morning. The British Army provides us with our communications, and they drink coffee all night to stay alert. We also have Canadians, Portugese and Dutch coming through periodically. — Michael
• Thank you so very much for the care package of coffee. You have truly put a smile on Soldiers’ faces this morning. God bless you all! — Denise
• You are the best. Thank you so much for the coffee you sent. Everyone here thanks you. All of the guys were so excited when I opened the box – we all spent a good hour searching through the boxes at all of the different flavors. It feels very good to know that people back home are thinking about us and supporting us. We work 96 hr shifts on call, so the coffee was perfect. — Victoria
• Thank you very very much for the coffee! On behalf of myself (an avid coffee fiend) and the rest of the guys here, THANK YOU! You guys rock!!!!!We appreciate the grinders too, as that allows us to have a really fresh cup. Your generosity reminds us that there are folks in the states that support us. The encouragement is priceless, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.Our unit doubled in size with the surge and if you had anymore coffee to send out this way it would be put to good use. Thank you and God bless you and the people that contributed! — Rick

Send coffee to the troops by being a part of the Operation 3 Million Cup Coffee Club

[tags]American Service men and women, American Soldier, American Military, American Troops, Operation 3 Million Cup Coffee Club, Donate To Troops, Military Coffee Club, Send Coffee To Troops

Bookmark to:

Hide Sites