To: All media
For Immediate Release
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(Hazle Twp., PA – January 10, 2008) – Chicago-based Gonnella Baking Company officially opened its newest frozen products manufacturing facility today, becoming the first operational tenant in CAN DO’s Humboldt Industrial Park North.

Production of some of the more than 150 different varieties of frozen bread and roll dough the company makes is already underway at Gonnella’s new 100,000-square foot manufacturing and warehouse facility. Gonnella’s frozen dough products are used by in-store baking facilities in grocery stores and restaurants nationwide.

Officials from CAN DO Inc., Greater Hazleton’s economic development corporation, the Governor’s Action Team, the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce and Hazle Township joined Gonnella officials this morning for ribbon cutting ceremonies.

“It’s a pleasure to officially welcome Gonnella Frozen Products to Greater Hazleton,” said CAN DO Chairman of the Board E. Thomas Sandrock. “CAN DO and Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Community and Economic Development Dennis Yablonsky first announced this project at our 50th Anniversary celebration in 2006. Now, a year and a half later, Gonnella is up and running. As a family-owned business for more than a century, Gonnella embodies much of the same ‘CAN DO’ spirit as the people of Greater Hazleton.”

Ground was broken on the Gonnella facility in October 2006, and construction was completed one year later. Gonnella began producing its frozen products in Hazleton in November. The company expects the facility to be fully operational by this spring.

In addition to its Hazleton facility, Gonnella Frozen Products also operates a manufacturing facility in Schaumburg, IL.

Several regional and state agencies were instrumental in preparing financing packages for the Gonnella project. “I want to thank Governor Rendell, Secretary Yablonsky and Steve Yokimishyn from the Governor’s Action Team for all of their hard work in helping us bring Gonnella to Greater Hazleton. I want to thank Joseph Lettiere from our staff for all of his work as well,” CAN DO President Kevin O’Donnell said. “Gonnella Frozen Products is a great company that brings with it good jobs for our area. They have a strong history, a record of satisfaction and are dedicated to the communities in which their facilities are located.”

Founded in 1886 by Alessandro Gonnella, the family-owned Gonnella Baking Company produces more than three million pounds of product weekly at three Chicago area facilities. As a high quality supplier for the in-store bakery and food service industries, Gonnella offers several product lines within the fresh baked, fresh baked frozen and frozen dough categories. The Gonnella-Marcucci families are still operating the bakeries much as their grandfather and great-grandfather did so many years ago. A total of 33 family members work for the company today.

Gonnella Baking Co. maintains sponsorship agreements with several professional sports and entertainment venues, including Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs; U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox; Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers; and the United Center, home of the Chicago’s NBA and NHL franchises as well as numerous entertainment events throughout the year.
For more information about Gonnella Baking Co., please visit their website at www.gonnella.com.