Governor Peter Shumlin joined the hundreds of workers of Vermont Castings’ Randolph and Bethel facilities Tuesday to celebrate the new management of this iconic Vermont brand and the return of some of its offshore manufacturing to Vermont. Last summer, Vermont Castings went through an ownership transition that resulted in a management buyout, saving the company and retaining more than 200 jobs in Vermont. CEO Ricardo Leon said that while headquarters remain in Paris, KY (where the company has been based since it went through another acquisition several years ago), this past winter Vermont Castings repatriated much of the production that had gone to China and Mexico.
“Now the Randolph foundry and the Bethel assembly plant are busier than ever,” Shumlin said. “This is a terrific example of how more and more companies are recognizing the value and work ethic of the Vermont workforce.”
“We believe in Vermont,” said Vermont Casting CFO Jacob Reuben, a former New York financial adviser who helped transition the company to employee ownership. “There’s a brand here that you just can’t duplicate. ‘Made in Vermont’ means something. It means quality.”
The company makes highly-efficient grills and woodstoves, often using recycled metals.
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Source: Governor's office. Courtesy photo