For Immediate Release:

WAUKEGAN, ILL. (August 10, 2011) – Local specialty food company Nielsen-Massey Vanillas is expanding its Waukegan-based headquarters to include a test kitchen and additional manufacturing and office space. The company is hosting a groundbreaking event on Wednesday, August 10 at 10:30 a.m. to announce the start of construction.

"We have been at our Waukegan location for 19 years and we continue to outgrow the space, said Matt Nielsen, chief operations officer. "Once construction is completed, we will have a 1,100 square feet test and demonstration kitchen, an extra 24,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space and an additional 4,800 square feet of office space."

Beth Nielsen, chief culinary officer, said the addition of a test kitchen will allow Nielsen-Massey to develop recipes and products directly in the plant.

"We are looking forward to the opportunity to host our product and recipe development in our own kitchen," she said. "The space will also be used for demos and events when needed."

The renovations are set to be completed by December 2011 and are just one of the recent updates made to this historic company. This summer, Nielsen-Massey debuted new labels and logos—the first revision since 2003. The goal of the transformation was to modernize the brand image and give meaning to the seal, which continues to be a central design element for the brand.

Nielsen-Massey has been in operation since 1907 and this is the 4th expansion or plant move. The company began in Sterling, Illinois, and has moved to Webster Ave in Chicago to Ballard Drive in Lake Forest, Illinois and finally to the current Waukegan location.

About Nielsen-Massey Vanillas
Throughout its more than 100 year history, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas has earned its reputation as a manufacturer of the finest extracts in the world. The full line of Nielsen-Massey's Pure Vanilla products include: Vanilla Beans and Extracts from Madagascar, Tahiti and Mexico; sugar and alcohol-free Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder; Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste; Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar and Certified Organic Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract and Beans.

Nielsen-Massey Vanillas recently introduced a line of Pure Flavors: Pure Chocolate Extract, Pure Almond Extract, Pure Orange Extract, Pure Lemon Extract, Pure Coffee Extract, Pure Peppermint Extract, Orange Blossom Water and Rose Water. All Nielsen-Massey products are Allergen-Free and certified Kosher and Gluten-Free. The company is headquartered in Waukegan, Illinois, with production facilities in Waukegan and Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.

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For more information about Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, contact: Gardi Wilks, gwilks@savoragency.com Savor – The Food Agency, 847-556-7511