Igloo’s New Distribution Center in Katy, Tx

According to Ronnie Crocker of the Houston Chronicle, www.chron.com, the cooler maker opens giant warehouse, Igloo’s new distribution center in Katy, Tx helping to bring factory jobs back to U.S. Instead of the tradition ribbon-cutting ceremony, Igloo officials had a flag-raising ceremony along with a veterans’ honor guard to dedicate a huge new warehouse & distribution center in Katy, Tx on this past Thursday, 10.10.13. www.igloocoolers.com.
Igloo is celebrating a return of manufacturing from China & the addition of some 280 jobs by year’s end. So far in 2013, Igloo has added three new production machines, including one in January that allowed Igloo to begin building its top-tier Yukon line locally instead of overseas. The shift will allow Igloo to respond to market changes more quickly & reflects a stated commitment to bring jobs back to the United States. Igloo made 18 million hard-sided coolers domestically last year. Its soft-sided coolers are still pout together overseas, & chairman & CEO Gary Kiedaisch said the company is looking or ways to make it economically feasible to return that work to the United States as well. After the newly announced positions are filled, the Katy plant & warehouse/distribution complex will employ about 1,100 workers.
Special Machines
The in-house rotational-molding machine, which cost between $1 million & $2 million, produces a heavier & better insulated cooler that can sell for much more than traditionally made products. It allows Igloo to compete against companies like Austin-based Yeti, which pioneered the premium cooler segment. The company has been able to increase capacity & add personnel thanks to a string of record sales years since a private-equity group bought Igloo in 2008. Kiedaisch said sales are up more than 50% since the takeover & Igloo has extended its lead in market share to more than 20 points over second-in-the-category Coleman.
New Full-Time Jobs
David Thornhill, executive vice president & Chief Operating Officer, said Igloo’s sustained growth spurt means the plant stays busy year-round, which in turn means most of the new jobs are full-time. In the past, the company hired seasonal workers to handle peak loads. “Now, instead of a part-time job, it’s a solid, full-time manufacturing job,” Thornhill said. “We know manufacturing jobs are hard to come by in this country. We’re pretty proud of that.” Kiedaisch praised Texas for what he called “the most business-friendly environment I’ve had the privilege of working in.” During remarks to state & local community leaders, he thanked government officials for tax abatements that allowed Igloo to open the new distribution center in Katy, Tx.
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