Monterey Pasta to Reconfigure Salinas Facility

Monterey Pasta Company (Salinas, CA) will complete Stage I of its plant reconfiguration by September 15, 1998.

Included in Stage I objectives are installation of additional Pietro Dominioni pasta making machinery and a custom made pasteurization line. The added pasta production line and associated conveyors will meet increasing demand for the company's tortelloni product. Dedicated exclusively to tortelloni/tortellini, the line increases overall plant efficiency, permitting the simultaneous production of ravioli and other filled pastas on the company's existing manufacturing lines.

Other Stage I work to be completed by that date includes installing expanded chilling capacity and an additional 110 rack positions of refrigerated storage, increasing cold storage capacity by 45%. The latter improvement frees up 9,000 sqft of plant space, which the company expects to need as part of its growth strategy.

``Monterey Pasta plans to develop new products, expand into new markets with existing customers, sign co-pack agreements with targeted manufacturers, and look to acquire complementary food companies,'' said president and CEO Lance Hewitt.

Monterey Pasta Company manufactures and distributes fresh refrigerated pastas and sauces to grocery and club stores across the United States from its integrated headquarters and production facility in Salinas.