Twincraft CEO Peter Asch in the Winooski lab. VermontBiz photos.
by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Soap and skin care products manufacturer Twincraft Skincare will expand to Williston. CEO Peter Asch told VermontBiz that the rapidly growing company has outgrown its two Essex Junction locations and is taking advantage of the recently available industrial space previously occupied by Keurig Dr Pepper. Keurig roasted and distributed Green Mountain Coffee from the 224,000-square-foot plant off Marshall Avenue. Keurig has consolidated operations at its Essex facilities near Susie Wilson Road.
VermontBiz reported last February that Keurig Dr Pepper would be moving out in the spring.
Asch said they will take possession of the plant in September with a lease-purchase option with owners the Miller family. He said production should begin in Williston in about a year. The plant will require extensive retrofitting to handle the production of Twincraft’s skincare division, he said. Twincraft already occupies 25,000 square feet of warehouse space in a separate building on the same parcel. Asch said Twincraft eventually will buy both buildings and the 37 ½ acres that goes with them.
“I always believed that skincare was a tremendous opportunity for the company and a way to scale the business,” Asch said.
The skincare division is now 70 percent of the company after only nine years of the 52-year-old firm, Asch said, and with the most opportunity to grow.
“Think about going into any store, any retailer who does this kind of product and try and find a bar of soap. You'll pass 500 bottles before you see one bar, so imagine the possibility.”
Because of the need to maintain current production and install and move equipment, the entire transfer will take “a good 2 ½ years.” While the 126,000-square-foot Essex Junction operations on River Road will be completely transferred to Williston, the original Winooski plant on Tigan Avenue will remain and continue to produce the company’s bar soap products.
The massive, former Keurig Dr Pepper plant in Williston will be the future home of Twincraft's skincare division.
Twincraft uses the latest advancements in hot pour technology to create creams, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and sunscreens. Brands include the local Bag Balm and well-known national lines, including L’Oreal, Harry’s and Native.
Twincraft in recent years has been on of Vermont’s most successful firms. It has been a regular awardee in Vermont Business Magazine’s Growth Awards. Twincraft boasted 5-year growth of 65.5 percent growth in 2023 on $70 million in sales and Asch said he expects the company to approach $100 million in sales.
Asch said the employees are very enthusiastic about the expansion. Access to the interstate and public transportation will be better, he said. In all, Twincraft employees 417 workers and the lowest wage starts at $20 an hour. They have a suite of benefits and a generous 5% match on their 401(k) retirement plan.
Asch said they have not had the recruitment and retention problems that other employers have faced in Vermont and have been vigorously hiring new workers to keep up with their growing demand. Asch said they've hired 150 workers over the last 18 months.
Williston Town Manager Erik Wells anticipates that everything will go smoothly on their end: "If any permits are required they would be administrative in nature. I am not sure what their timeline will be. We are excited to welcome them to Williston."
Twincraft was founded by Peter and co-owner and brother Richard’s father and his twin brother in 1972. The family was from Quebec and soon after moved the private-label soap manufacturer to nearby Vermont.
A sampling of Twincraft's skincare products.
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