| The Maredy Co. opens second center By RICK PIERCE St. Louis Post-Dispatch 12/05/2002 GREENVILLE - The Maredy Co., which provides candy and other items to fund-raising groups, has opened a new facility in the city's industrial park and expects to add 10 to 15 employees in the next year. The firm now employs 32, most of them at its original building on Harris Avenue. Maredy also has facilities in San Diego and Boise, Idaho. The Boise plant manufactures the firm's unique selection of lollipops, which include an array of shapes, sizes and flavors. The company ships its candies, gift wrap, collectibles, Christmas ornaments and candles to 25,000 school groups and clubs across the country. At Greenville, the company sorts and packages the items individually, so that each student gets a box with the items he or she sold. "We pick and pack for each kid," said Rich Maire, who oversees the Greenville facility. "Each kid gets a box for his customers with whatever orders he took." Maire said the company wasn't going to switch locations but would continue to operate out of both the Harris Avenue site and the new facility in the city's industrial park. The Greenville site ships to everywhere east of Kansas City. Groups at Alton High, Edwardsville High, Edwardsville Middle, Jerseyville High, Kreitner Elementary in Collinsville, East St. Louis High and Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Collinsville are among those selling Maredy products. This is the busiest time of year. Maire said employees would be working longer hours and Saturdays to fill holiday orders. "The workforce in Greenville is just outstanding," said Robin Maire, the firm's owner and Rich Maire's brother. "Their work ethic and productivity is head and shoulders above anywhere else I've been associated with." Today through Saturday, the company will be holding its annual warehouse sale, where it will discount its items 60 percent to 80 percent. Reporter Rick Pierce: E-mail: rpierce@post-dispatch.com Phone: 618-659-3637 |