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10-11-2006 |
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WEBSTER SPRINGS HOTDOG CHILI PRODUCER CUTTING RIBBON ON EXPANSION PROJECT nification RFID) ear tag technology to streamline the process. Custard Stand Food Products owners Dee and Angie Cowger will host a grand opening celebration Thursday, October 12, for their new warehouse and facility expansion that will more than double the company’s current cooking, storage and freezer space. The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. and will include lunch – hotdogs, of course. Among the dignitaries expected at the event are representatives of Governor Joe Manchin’s office, numerous local officials, representatives of the Natural Capital Investment Fund (NCIF) – which helped to finance the expansion – and longtime Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass. “One of my missions during my tenure in office has been to promote the great people and products of the Mountain State. I could not be more pleased for the Cowgers. They are a prime example of what West Virginia agribusinesses can be,” said Commissioner Douglass. “I also applaud the members of my marketing and development staff, whose technical assistance, networking activities and sales leads have helped to get this business off the ground and to the point it has reached thus far.” Custard Stand Food Products was launched in June of 2003, following repeated requests for a take-home version of the hotdog chili sold at the family’s ice cream / snack carry-out restaurant. Just three years later, their frozen hot-dog chili is available at more than 200 outlets in eight states. The current production capacity of 2,500 pounds a day will grow to 4,400 pounds a day thanks to the new 30’ x 50’ building that includes a 16’ x 22’ storage freezer. U.S. Representative Nick Rahall said, “This is a great example of the entrepreneurial spirit in West Virginia and how private-public partnerships can be used to leverage private-sector dollars for promoting entrepreneurial development in rural West Virginia. I commend the Natural Capital Investment Fund for its investment, which will enable Custard Stand Food Products to expand its business to better serve the residents of Webster County.” The Cowgers thanked the officials who have supported their company and the involvement of NCIF and BB&T Bank, which allowed construction of the additional space and the purchase of additional equipment. NCIF is a certified community development financial institution that provides financing and technical assistance for natural resource-based businesses in West Virginia. For additional information on programs offered by the NCIF, contact Fred Baer at 304-870-2203. For more information on Custard Stand Food Products, visit www.custardstand.com, or phone 304-847-2942. The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org.
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