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BLUE SMOKE OPENS NEW MANUFACTURING FACILITY, GRAND OPENING
FEATURES TASTE OF WEST VIRGINIA
Blue Smoke Salsa, one of West Virginias premier gourmet specialty
food manufacturers, will hold an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony
for its new processing facility in Ansted, W.Va., Friday, November
8, 2003, 11 a.m. Festivities will continue through Friday and Saturday.
Founded in 1992 by owner Robin Hildebrand, Blue Smoke features
multi-heat salsas, a signature hot sauce, chef cooking sauce, BBQ
sauce and old-fashion pepper jelly. The company originated in the
basement of Hildebrands house in Chimney Corner and moved
to downtown Ansted in 1997. Faced with increased popularity, the
current expansion began in early summer and culminates with this
weekends ribbon cutting ceremonies.
The new production facility is directly across the street from
the first downtown Ansted location. An automated filling line, public
production viewing deck, a dedicated West Virginia gourmet gift
basket area and expanded retail center are the highlights of Blue
Smokes contribution to downtown Ansted and its growing retail
sector.
Festivities begin at 11 a.m. on Friday with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Support for the project was provided by the West Virginia Department
of Agriculture, Marshall University Economic Development Authority
and the West Virginia Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
Filling line demonstrations will take place on Friday at 1 p.m.
and again on Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Blue Smoke will be open
on Friday from 11a.m. - 5 p.m. and from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Throughout both days, West Virginia gourmet food businesses will
provide samples and meet with the public in the Blue Smoke Specialties
retail store.
Selected as the 2000 West Virginia Emerging Entrepreneur of the
Year by Ernst & Young, Blue Smoke Salsa is a participant in
the West Virginia Grown program, which celebrates the
states network of over 300 home-based agricultural businesses.
The states agribusinesses generate $100 million a year for
the states economy. For additional information on the Open
House and Blue Smoke, please contact Hildebrand at (304) 658-3800
or by e-mail at bluesmokesalsa@hotmail.com.
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