Vermont Business Magazine This week, Governor Phil Scott and senior state officials joined representatives from Walmart and Vermont Smoke & Cure to celebrate American jobs with a tour of the meat stick manufacturing facility.
“Vermont Smoke & Cure is a great company with deep Vermont roots that values both its customers and employees, and we must continue working together to help manufacturers like them grow and employ even more Vermonters," said Governor Scott. “I thank them for their commitment to Vermont, and also thank Walmart for their work to introduce businesses like Vermont Smoke & Cure to people around the country.”
The company became a Walmart supplier after taking part in the retailer’s Open Call to U.S Manufacturers in 2017. As a result of their growing business with Walmart, Vermont Smoke & Cure has today increased its workforce by 20%. Additional support from the Vermont Departments of Labor and Economic Development allowed Vermont Smoke & Cure to invest in top-notch job training resulting in job proficiency and promotion eligibility.
“We are grateful to be a part of Walmart’s investment in American Jobs,” said Tara Murphy, CEO of Vermont Smoke & Cure. “Gaining distribution in select Walmart stores this summer enabled us to increase our workforce by 20%. As CEO of this ‘better for you snack company,’ I am proud to be a Vermont manufacturer, doing business with the world’s largest retailer, Walmart.”
With more than 80% of Walmart customers stating that where products are made matters to them, the retailer launched its ‘Investing in American Jobs’ initiative -- a 10-year commitment of $250 billion that is being invested in goods produced, sourced and assembled in the U.S.
“It was fantastic to join Vermont Smoke & Cure, the Governor and his team from the Departments of Labor and Economic Development to celebrate manufacturing in Vermont,” said Chris Buchanan, Walmart Director, Public Affairs and State and Local Government Relations “U.S. manufacturers play a crucial role in bringing products to our shelves, and when companies like Vermont Smoke & Cure keep production in the US, we are working together to increase American jobs.”
Lifelong Hinesburg resident Billie Joe Murray, has risen through the ranks of Vermont Smoke & Cure as it has undergone its expansion.
“As I’ve moved from an Operator to a Room Lead to a QA Technician and now to a Shift Supervisor, I’ve learned every aspect of our manufacturing business,” she said. “Without partners like Walmart that believe in our brand, I wouldn’t have had this opportunity. For me, this isn’t just a job. I’m proud of what we do here. I’m proud of the product and I’m proud of the people I get to work with.”
To learn more about Vermont Smoke & Cure, visit https://www.vermontsmokeandcure.com/. For more on Walmart and its continued investment to jobs in America, go to https://corporate.walmart.com/americaatwork.
About Walmart in Vermont
In Vermont we serve customers at 6 retail units and online through Walmart Grocery Pickup, , Walmart.com and Jet.com.
We are proud to employ 1,145 associates in Vermont. Walmart supports local businesses, spending $578.8 million with Vermont suppliers in FYE19, which supported 5,568 supplier jobs. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are active in the communities where we live and work and invest in communities through local grants, customer engagement and associate volunteer efforts. In FYE19, we contributed more than $428,665 in cash and in-kind donations to local nonprofits in Vermont. Learn more at the Walmart Today blog, and our Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram channels.
About Vermont Smoke & Cure
Vermont Smoke & Cure has been crafting smoked meats and meat snacks in their smokehouse in Vermont since 1962. Its one-of-a-kind meat snacks are made with meat free from antibiotics and added hormones. Available in two convenient sizes for portability from the lunchbox to the gym bag, Vermont Smoke & Cure meat snacks can be found nationwide at natural food stores, supermarkets, mass merchandisers, club stores, and ecommerce retailers. For more information, please visit www.vermontsmokeandcure.com.
Source: Hinesburg, VT., December 11, 2019 - Walmart