ALEDA and Zumbro River Brand partner to build warehouse, create jobs

Albert Lea Economic Development Agency (ALEDA) is happy to announce a new project in partnership with Zumbro River Brand (ZRB) in Albert Lea, MN. The construction of a 74,000 square-foot food grade warehouse is soon to begin. 

At the completion of the building, which will be built adjacent to the current Zumbro River Brand plant in Albert Lea, Zumbro River Brand will begin leasing the space for staging and warehousing. This new space allows for Zumbro River Brand to make changes to their existing layout moving staging space out of their building, and moving their warehousing from the South Industrial Park to the new building to increase efficiency. Most importantly, this will allow ZRB to invest their capital into adding another extrusion system in 2017. 

“The new system will increase our extrusion capacity by 50%.  We will also have space to add a 4th extrusion system here in 2018 or 2019.  The addition of each new extrusion system creates 20 new jobs, brings many new customers to visit the plant and generates significant business in Albert Lea for restaurants, motels, supplies, services, and other purchases.”, said Pam Sander, President of Zumbro River Brand.  

These 20 new jobs will add to Zumbro River Brand’s 115 current jobs. 

When asked why ALEDA would invest in a project like this, Executive Director Ryan Nolander explained,  

“We believe most of our business growth is going to come from helping our existing companies, and this project does that. It allows ZRB to invest their capital in new equipment and lines, in return creating 20+ new, high quality jobs.” 

Asked to comment on the experience with ALEDA Pam said,  

“Working with Ryan Nolander and the ALEDA team has been an outstanding experience.  ALEDA’s efforts to create jobs and to open opportunities for businesses in Albert Lea are truly creative and effective. All of the ZRB staff involved in this project have appreciated how cooperative and helpful Ryan and his support team have been.” 

Like any great community economic development project, this project could not have been completed without assistance from others. The City of Albert Lea graciously provided the parcel of land that connects the new building site to Sykes Street, which will allow for a fire lane and building access on Sykes Street. In addition, this project required significant investments by local community banks led by Daniel Otten of Farmer’s State Bank. Tim Reisnour of Zenk, Read, Trygstad provided design and architect work that fit the needs of ZRB and ALEDA. Don Savekoul of Savelkoul Law Office spent many hours on the agreement design and legal guidance that was also vital to this project coming together.

Zumbro River Brand is a contract food manufacturer – producing food products to customer specifications such as instantized beverage mixes, high protein snacks and crisps for nutrition bars. In 1985, ZRB, Inc. purchased a facility in Owatonna, MN. To expand operations in 2007, the company purchased their Albert Lea facility. For more information about ZRB’s extrusion and agglomeration services, visit www.zumbroriverbrand.com or contact them at 507-377-9776. 

ALEDA is the local economic development organization made up of two separate entities – the City of Albert Lea Port Authority and Greater Jobs, Inc.  If you are a new or expanding business looking for assistance or potential help with gap financing, contact ALEDA at 507-373-3930.