History will repeat itself when Nor-Cal Beverage Co., West Sacramento, CA, completes the sale of its beer distribution business (as reported in “Nor-Cal sells beer distribution business...”).
In 2007, the company undertook a $47-million plant renovation in West Sacramento. Now, attentions turn to major upgrades at the company's Anaheim plant.
"We've been reassessing the manufacturing side of the business," Nor-Cal CEO Shannon Deary-Bell told Contract Packaging, adding that "over the past couple of years," the company upgraded water, power and overall infrastructure as well as modernized the plant’s blend room. Next, the company will put that investment to work: "We will add a can line in Anaheim, to be up and running by the spring of next year." Additionally, new tunnel pasteurization, hot fill and cold fill systems are being installed. The upgrades are already partially covered by increased demand for an undisclosed customer.
Asked whether it was counter-intuitive to divest distribution assets at a time when the contract packaging industry is buzzing with talk of packaging and logistics integration, the CEO said: "We’re really good at what we do, and that’s manufacturing.” She added that while the company owns an energy drink brand, Go Girl, the main focus will remain on the co-pack side of the business.
