BoDeans expands production, adds more than 50 jobs

BoDeans Baking Company is in the process of expanding both it's cone and wafer production at its facilities in the Le Mars industrial park, according to co-owner Dean Jacobson.

"We've had rapid growth in our company," he said.

About $6 million of the investment will expand the ice cream cone production, expanding capacity and retro-fitting some of the lines to make smaller novelty cone treats.

"We've noticed new trends in the marketplace -- in the cone side of the business -- very rapid growth in the smaller sized cones," Jacobson said. "We're seeing a trend that's moving toward smaller portion sizes, smaller calorie counts."

For example, one of their cone-buyers, Wells' Dairy, markets a Weight Watcher's product that incorporates a smaller serving size, Jacobson said.

Along increases in demand for cones from existing customers like Wells' Dairy, BoDeans Baking Company has also gained some significant new customers in the last 12 months.

"Next year I think we're going to be approaching a total production of almost 550 million cones and approaching 400 million paper sleeves that go on the bottom of cones," Jacobson said.

The reason the existing customer base is growing quickly, even during tough economic times, can be attributed to the fact that novelties are a relatively inexpensive treat and good comfort food, he explained.

"We've actually seen growth patterns that are anti-recessionary," Jacobson said. "What we're finding is instead of people dining out and taking trips, they're buying novelty products, bringing them home and putting them in their freezers so their family does have a relatively inexpensive treat."

In the wafer side, BoDeans Baking Company is doubling its capacity.

"We're in the process right now of starting up a brand new $6 million wafer line," Jacobson said.

Industry patterns for wafers are similar to cones, he added.

"We have rapid growth in our existing business base, most notably to Wells' Blue Bunny and the growth of their ice cream sandwich business because of the anti-recessionary factor," Jacobson said.

BoDeans has also added "significant new accounts."

"They are onboard now and beginning to roll out," Jacobson said.

The new wafer line is going to be starting up in the next week or so, he said.

The expanded cone and sleeve production should be operational sometime in early January, he added, explaining the company built a new facility in the back of their plant for that growth.

The expansion, both in cones and wafers, brings close to 60 full-time jobs.

"They're being added now," Jacobson said.

Most are already in training so when the expansions are up and running they can step into the new positions.

BoDeans, which markets its product throughout the United States and into Canada and Mexico, is pleased to expand in Le Mars, Jacobson said.

"We've mutually benefitted from the great support we get from the local community and we feel that we're giving back to the community by continuous reinvestment into our facilities, expansion of our facilities and expansion of our employee population," he said.