Vitamix® Corporation Breaks Ground on $3 Million Expansion Project

OLMSTED TOWNSHIP, OHIO - August 26, 2002 -Vitamix® Corporation, the leader in manufacturing high performance blending and mixing equipment, today announced a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, August 27 at 3:00 pm to commence its $3 million expansion project at 8615 Usher Road, Olmsted Township.

President and CEO John Barnard, and other company officials, will speak at the ceremony. Olmsted Township Trustee Tom Bush, Olmsted Chamber of Commerce President Pat Sheen-Burg, and Superintendent of Olmsted Falls Public Schools Bob Kreiner, will attend the event.

The project will add 63,000 square feet to the building's existing 36,000 square feet. The expansion is designed to consolidate the company's production, engineering, and warehouse space currently located on Karl Street and Bagley Road in Berea, and the current corporate headquarters on Usher Road.

"We continually look for opportunities to increase synergies and maximize efficiencies throughout the organization, and consolidating our facilities was a logical move," explains John Barnard, president and CEO. "With a recent zoning change of our property on Usher Road from residential to light industrial, we're very pleased to stay in the community and continue to operate quietly in the woods."

While the property rezoning will likely raise Vitamix's tax base, no tax abatements were requested by the company. "We feel very strongly about education and are pleased to support the community in which we live and operate," says Barnard.

Barnard, an environmentalist, led the company's planning team to design the new building. With over two years in the planning stages, the team ensured that many of the wooded areas trees were maintained - especially the older ones. Additionally, the color of the building was carefully selected to blend into the natural landscape surrounding it. The new brown building will be landscaped with walking trails, park benches, and picnic areas.

"We were very careful to maintain the property's acreage and were equally concerned with being good neighbors," adds Barnard. "As a result of this project, our neighbors will now have an opportunity to hook-up into the new sewer system."

Located in Olmsted Township for over 54 years, some of Vitamix' neighbors have become employees. Jim Hajduk, Vitamix production supervisor, is a neighbor and employee of 20 years. Hajduk, who lives next door, says, "Vitamix has been a good neighbor to my family since 1948. I'm a third generation employee as well. My grandmother, mother, father, sister, and brother have all worked at Vitamix."

Founded in 1921, the privately held, family-owned Vitamix has grown and prospered in Olmsted Township since 1948. The original log-cabin structure, along with several additions, and rented facilities in Berea, house the company's 145 employees. The most recent addition was built in 1982.

When the new facility is completed in December 2002, production and warehousing will move in from Berea. By the spring of 2003, engineering will move back, with redistribution of the other departments in the combined facility following later. The company will continue to assemble components and electrical appliances in the new space. Inside the new facility, careful attention was given to workspaces featuring open cubicles, modular furniture and natural lighting. Additionally, a new cafeteria will be added.

Vitamix manufactures high-speed, high-performance blenders that perform dozens of different kitchen functions. The machines can grind grain, cook soup, juice whole fruits and vegetables, knead dough, create frozen drinks, and can even make ice cream. And that's just a portion of what they can do.

Chicago Chef Charlie Trotter named the Vitamix® as one of the top ten kitchen gadgets he didn't want to be without. Trotter likes it for purees, oils and sauces. And Cook's Illustrated recently called the Vitamix® the "King of Blenders" in its May/June 2002 issue. The machine was referenced as both the ultimate blender and the trophy appliance in any well-equipped kitchen. With a loyal following from chefs and consumers alike, the Vitamix is distributed internationally in more than 45 countries.

Vitamix®, privately owned and operated by the Barnard family since 1921, manufactures and markets superior blending and mixing products directly to the public and the restaurant hospitality industry. Internationally distributed in 45 countries, the company is located in Olmsted Township, Ohio, and employs 145. For more information, visit www.vitamix.com.

Vitamix Corporation is a quality-based organization providing a high level of value and benefits to our customers by creating, producing and/or marketing high performance, durable, reliable, innovative equipment to the consumer market and foodservice industries.