Made in Southwest

MADE IN SOUTHWEST Index Businesses featured: Jonaco ...............................................2 Foreverence .....................................3 Federal Package Network Inc. .....5 Fred’s Bread ....................................6 PooBagger ......................................6 Waconia Brewing Company ......7 United Sugars .................................8

A special section highlighting some of the “producers” in the southwest suburbs.

yesterday, today, tomorrow

PUBLISHED BY SWNEWSMEDIA.COM AND DISTRIBUTED IN THE CHANHASSEN VILLAGER, CHASKA HERALD AND EDEN PRAIRIE NEWS NEWSPAPERS

2 | April 2015

Made in Southwest

Critical parts for crucial uses Jonaco makes parts for aircraft sensors, and much more

BY MARK W. OLSON editor@chaskaherald.com

W

hen you c o mpl e t e an assignment, wh at ’s your accu-

racy?

Are you routinely accurate to .0004 or less of an inch?

That measurement (a fraction of a human hair width) is the type of precision that the 142 employees at Jonaco Machine tackle on a regular basis, notes Jonaco President Bill Russell.

Perhaps that’s not surprising for a Chaska company with a caliper (a measurement tool) as its logo.

“Our customers expect quality parts every time with the criticality of the applications, and we endeavor to build in that quality with ex-

perienced machinists, quality personnel and manufacturing systems,” Russell stated.

“For almost 40 years, Jonaco Machine has offered state-of-the-art machining facilities for precision turning, milling, drilling, tapping and de-burring,” Russell said.

“We have earned a reputation from our customers for our ability to manufacture close-tolerance parts out of a variety of materials used in the aerospace, medical and high-technology industries,” Russell stated.

To name a few examples, Jonaco makes parts used in aircraft speed and de-icing sensors; aircraft video surveillance systems; DNA testing systems; pressure sensor systems used in refineries and off-shore drilling; and parts for aircraft cargo systems.

Rough die-casts or blocks of metal (aluminum, nick-

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Jonaco Machine employees at work in Chaska. The company makes a wide variety of parts for industries such as aerospace and medicine. el, titanium, molybdenum, the list goes on) enter the 47,000-square-foot company at Highway 41 and Lyman Boulevard. Then finely crafted parts go out.

These components are as small as a sixteenth of an inch.

One recent morning, 66-pound

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pieces of metal went into a machine that used 100 different tools to create an 18-pound medical machine component.

The parts are created using a variety of machines, whose operators Russell describes as craftsmen who require mechanical aptitude, as well as computer programming and math skills.

The largest apparatuses look like some sort of tool vending machine, in which the computer chooses from a wide selection of tools, such as drill bits, to create the finished product. “Our machining centers have the capability of holding over 300 different tools, providing the ability to produce a variety of complex products without utilizing different equipment or manually changing tooling,” Russell said. “We just invested over $1.5 million in new equipment to help us maintain capacity and capability to grow with our existing and new customers.”

After the machining, there are several follow-up steps,

ranging from polishing to testing to shipping. The orders are marked on software, so they can be tracked by employees and clients from the time they are ordered, until they are shipped.

“At any given time, we may have over 2,500 active parts and our people, and systems enable us to deliver 75 percent of our products within 10 days after receiving an order from our customer,” Russell said.

Many items are sent next-day delivery. The company works four shifts, 24/7 to ensure this happens.

Jon ac o M ach i ne s h a s strong roots in Chaska, as one of the early companies in the Jonathan Industrial Park. It takes its name from the “New Town” of Jonathan, which was going strong when Jonaco was founded in 1971.

The company is now owned by the Demmer Corp., a family owned business, based in Lansing, Mich.

Jonaco has a large number of long-term employees, recently holding a retirement

Just the Facts Business: Jonaco Machine Address: 3990 Peavey Road, Chaska Founded: 1971 Employees: 142 Business/product: Precision-machined components for aerospace, medical products and high-tech industries.

Fun facts: Jonaco continues to be a major supplier to its first customers from 1971.

Website: www.jonaco. com party for a 42-year employee.

There are 32 employees with over 20 years at Jonaco. “Not only do these employees provide an excellent capability level for Jonaco, but they also play a significant role in mentoring newer employees,”

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Made in Southwest

April 2015 | 3

An individual remembrance Eden Prairie’s Foreverence offers custom-made, 3D-printed urns

Just the Facts Business: Foreverence Address: 9963 Valley View Road, Eden Prairie Years in location: 1 Employees: 6

BY KARLA WENNERSTROM editor@edenprairienews.com

“A

n individual life deserves a n i nd iv id u a l remembrance,” said Gra nt Dawson of St. Paul, director of communication for Foreverence.

And that’s what the first-of-itskind business offers, a 3D-printed urn personally designed for your loved one.

Founder Pete Saari of Maple Grove is an entrepreneur with experience in 3D printing. He had been learning about the funeral industry and thought families would appreciate being able to create something more meaningful and personalized than the urns that were available.

There weren’t a lot of options for personalizing the urns, beyond changing the name plate, color or shape slightly.

“This provides a totally new level of individualization,” Dawson said, as he displayed an urn in the shape of a baby blue ‘57 Chevy.

Dawson said the business pushes the limits of what 3D printers can do. The printed products are ceramic and some have painted details. He said they can be personalized to the point of recreating a dent on that favorite car’s fender.

A display case in the Foreverence office highlights a variety of items that have been designed, including urns in the shape of ballet slippers and an African elephant.

One of the urns in the display case represents the first item sold

by Foreverence.

Saari said that he had been working on prototypes for the business, when he learned that Bob Casale, one of the founding members of Devo, had died.

Saari thought of the Devo “Energy Dome” red hat and thought, “what a perfect representation of that person’s art and that person’s life,” he said.

He reached out to the band’s management team, offered his condolences, said he was a fan and asked if it would be possible for him to make the family aware of their customized urns.

Saari heard back within minutes.

“This was the first joyful moment in a very dark period of time for them,” he said he was told. Foreverence made two of the Energy Dome urns, designed to the exact dimensions of the band’s hats, and his remains were split between family members.

THE DESIGN PROCESS The usual buyers of a Foreverence product will find the company through funeral planners or contact the company directly

PHOTOS BY KARLA WENNERSTROM

A 3D-printed item fresh off the printer.

Interesting facts: The first urn sold by the company was shaped like an “Energy Dome,” a model of the distinctive red hat worn by the band Devo, and sold to the family of the late Bob Casale, one of the band’s founders. They received this message: “Your efforts filled a pressing need and provided an appropriate, custom-made resting place for Bob’s ashes.

I can’t thank you enough for bringing a little positive into these dark days for us.”

Website: foreverence.com

Pete Saari of Foreverence with an urn shaped like the Space Shuttle.

The fi rst urn sold by Foreverence was a Devo “Energy Dome” for the late Bob Casale, one of the founding members of the band.

Foreverence founder Pete Saari and director of communication Grant Dawson by the display case. via the website.

They will meet with someone from Foreverence to discuss their ideas of what they might want.

Sometimes people have something specific in mind, like an African elephant. Sometimes it’s a more vague concept, like “the 1960’s.” They have been asked to design urns in the shape of a pickle and a garden gnome.

Foreverence artists present the family with design ideas. For example, for the 19 6 0’s theme, they discussed items including an electric guitar and Jimi Hendrixstyle bandana and a VW bus with “flower power” designs.

When a final design is chosen and approved, it proceeds to 3D printing.

In the room where the 3D printing takes place, Dawson and Saari displayed a Space Shuttle-shaped urn that was designed for a NASA systems engineer, who had a key part in designing the shuttle.

At 94, he is planning for his end-of-life decisions and decided on the design.

“Typically seven to 10 days from when they approve the file, they have their design in hand,” Dawson said. The cost is $2,495.

“We help families design and create the per fect memorial,”

Saari said. “That level of perfection is not available in the market.

Everybody is having to settle for something that’s close enough or good enough and not something that’s truly perfect.”

Dawson said people are not necessarily choosing cremation because it is “cheaper,” they are often choosing it for a variety of other reasons, including that it’s more practical, environmentally friendly, a tradition in the family or that they want to scatter a portion of their ashes in a specific place. The business also offers pet cremation urns under the brand, Foreverence Pets.

“The mistake that the funeral service is making is that they believe people who have chosen cremation are doing so because it’s the cheaper option,” Saari said.

“It was very important to me

A 3D-printed urn designed to look like a guitar. from the very beginning to make sure everybody understood we are not an advocacy organization,” Saari said. “We are just there for people when they have chosen cremation and chosen they wanted a personal keepsake.”

Saari said designing an urn elevates the conversation from choosing an item from a catalog to what was truly important or meaningful in the person’s life.

“There’s a sensitivity that is critical to everything we do,” Dawson said. “That’s the reason reverence is in our name.”

Saari said that although in this business it would seem that they would be surrounded with grief and sadness, “our product seems to transcend all of that.

“Most of our experiences have been literally joyful,” he said.

“They can’t believe there’s something so personal and so perfect for their family member. When they get it and receive it there’s this outpouring of joy.”

4 | April 2015

Made in Southwest

Ta-da Triangles

BY UNSIE ZUEGE uzuege@swpub.com

L

inda Bloudek’s business proves t h at a n enter prisi ng mi nd can always find a solution to a

problem.

An avid quilter, Bloudek is the owner and founder of Ta-Da Triangles.

Her quilting product is a ti me saver for qui lters who find themselves cutting dozens of fabric t riangle pieces for their quilting projects. Bloudek worked for many years at The Sampler quilting shop in downtown Chanhassen. It was there, talking quilting, projects and problems with customers, that she came up with an idea to make cutting out triangles easier, more efficient and definitely faster.

“I’ve been a quilter since 1995,” Bloudek explained.

“When my kids were little, I started sewing them Zubaz pants, and then I started sewing other clothes for them.

But after a certain age, they didn’t want me making their clothes.”

Instead, Bloudek’s neighbor showed her how to quilt, and she’s been doing so ever since. Her Chanhassen home is f i l led wit h her qui lts.

Making quilters’ lives easier and more efficient

Just the Facts Business: Ta-Da Triangles,

by Ta-Da Quilt Products Address: P.O. Box 357, Chanhassen, MN 55317 Years in location: Since 2005 Employees: 1 Interesting facts: The name of the company comes from the day Linda Bloudek surprised her cat-loving family by announcing, “Ta-da! We have another cat!”

Website: www. tadatriangles.com

Those she doesn’t keep, she gives away to family and friends, and occasionally will pull out an old quilt project, and re-do it.

Eventually, Bloudek went to work at The Sampler quilt shop in downtown Chanhassen sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm with customers.

“I started at The Sampler in 1998 and was there for for 11 years,” Bloudek said.

“It was t here, t a l ki ng to customers and seeing what people were talking about that I thought about putting a grid on interfacing to make

PHOTOS BY UNSIE ZUEGE

Linda Bloudek fusible interfacing grids are sized for fit “fat quarters” of fabric. cutting triangles easier and faster.

It wasn’t long before she bought some wide-format printers, used for photography and maps, to print triangle grids on fusible interfacing, and her business

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was created. “ My bu si ne s s i s ve r y small,” Bloudek concedes, “tiny even. I work out of a small bedroom in my basement, a former corner office.”

There are competitors, Bloudek said, but most print grids on lightweight paper, not fusible interfacing. The interfacing makes the triangles not only easier to cut out, but the fusible interfacing provides a light backing and body to the triangles, and prevents the fabric, cut on the bias, from stretching.

“I pri nt g rids,” Bloudek said, “ for ha l f-squa re triangles, quarter-square triangles, prairie points, continuous line bias binding and some patterns. “ Bloudek demonstrates on the big cutting table in her workroom. She showed how a quilter can lay the fusible interfacing, adhesive side down on the wrong side of the fabric. The quilter lightly presses the interfacing down with a hot iron. When the interfacing has fused to the fabric and cooled, the quilter simply takes a straight edge and rotary cutter, and cuts along the solid lines of the grid; the quilter sews along the dotted lines. In a matter of minutes, there’s a dozen or more triangles ready to use.

Her fusible interfacing grid is sized to fit “fat quarters” Fat quarters are quarter-yard cuts of fabric cut wide, measuring 18 inches by 21 inches.

“A lot of people make grids on paper,” Bloudek said, “but the problem is that when you sew on the paper grid, when you rip it off, it loosens your stitches.”

Bloudek attends quilting and sewing trade shows, and sells her product to quilting

Linda Bloudek’s deceptively simple idea helps quilters save time.

Ta-Da Triangles come in a variety of sizes for different quilting projects, even “prairie points.” shops throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and Mexico. She also has a couple of distributors who sell directly to quilt shops.

“I was more busy when I started,” Bloudek said. “The quilting generation is dying away. The big boom for quilting was in the 1970s. I think crafts go in and out of style. My first year, 2005, we opened a website, and got a hit within a week. Then that spring, we went to the quilt market — a trade show for quilting products — and got my product out, and in the

fall attended the big one in Houston, Texas. So that’s how it got out there in the beginning.”

Bloudek said she could probably sell a lot more if she attended more trade shows and marketed more aggressively.

But these days, the kids she used to sew clothing for, are grown up, and they’ve made her a grandmother.

“So I don’t have the time I used to,” Bloudek said. “I like to keep my schedule flexible so we can watch the grandkids when the kids call.”

Made in Southwest

April 2015 | 5

PHOTOS BY RICHARD CRAWFORD

The high-tech equipment helps Federal Package compete favorably with other manufacturers in Asia and elsewhere.

OUR LIPS ARE SEALED Federal Package a lip balm leader

BY RICHARD CRAWFORD editor@chanvillager.com

T

h e s o u t hw e s t suburbs are well stocked with a wide array of lip balm and other beauty products thanks to the work of Federal Package Network Inc., which produces about 100 million lip balm containers annually.

Federal Package Network, lo c ate d i n Ch a sk a si nc e 1985, moves to a larger location at 8100 Powers Blvd. in Chanhassen this year to accommodate business growth, according to Steve Dakolios, president of Federal Package.

Dakolias credits the company’s commitment to quality and delivery as keys to the company’s growth.

“The cosmetic industry continues to expand globally and is predicted to reach more than $ 62 bil lion by 2016,” he said in a company release. “Moving to a larger facility will allow us to offer additional capabilities to our customers and satisfy market demand.”

Walk in to most major retail stores that provide lip balm and there will be containers produced by Federal Package, although the product will feature the brand names of some of the biggest

names in the industry. On some of the containers, in small print, you may find the company name if the container has a Federal Package patent.

There are about 20 different containers made on site – and the company has 17 patents on its products, Dakolios explained.

Federal Package products are primarily distributed in the United States, but some also are distributed internationally to Europe, Asia, South America and countries including Australia and New Zealand.

The company has more t h a n 8 5 cu stomers, wit h about 30 of those representing about 90 percent of the company’s production volume.

In addition to producing lip balm containers – ranging from the # 500 Classic container to Duet, a dualended container with separate turn screws near each end – Federal Package also has the capability of producing the balm.

The company has more than 50 employees with 25 different production lines.

Employees staff assembly lines producing lip balms that can fill different cont ai ner shap es as wel l as featuring a multitude of lip

balm flavors.

POPULAR FLAVORS Popular f lavors include mint, spearmint and wintergreen as well as cherry and vanilla. Technicians mi x t he lip ba l m, which includes mineral oil, waxes and f lavoring, to precise specifications.

The company also has the ability to create more specialized flavors of balm, such as a “hot wings” specialty lip balm.

The high-tech production lines can produce more than 2 0 0 containers a minute, Dakolias said. The level of automation can compete favorably with manufacturers in Asia and elsewhere.

Federal Package’s on-site laboratory and production facilities are registered with the FDA, ensuring quality production, according to the company’s website. An FDA audit occurs every two years, he said.

Da koli a s said a not her point of pride for Federal Package is the company’s safety record, which is supported by a safety-incentive program for employees.

OTHER PRODUCTS While lip balm accounts for the vast majority of the company’s business, Federal

Federal Package Network employees produce a lip balm product that is distributed in a circular container.

Just the Facts Business: Federal Package Network Inc. Address: 8100 Powers Blvd., Chanhassen Years in location: Moved from Chaska this year Employees: 52 and growing Interesting facts: Company produces more than 25 flavors of lip balm, including specialty flavors such as “hot wings.”

Website: www.

FederalPackage.com

Package produces a substantial amount of sun screen – containers and product – and also has smaller niche products, including muscle rubs and eye blacks used at sporting events.

More than 20 different containers are produced at Federal Package. The company also has the capability to fi ll containers with product ranging from lip balm to muscle rubs.

6 | April 2015

Made in Southwest

Manufacturing deliciousness one slice of bread at a time

BY DANIEL HUSS dhuss@swpub.com

F

red’s Bread sits on the north end of Washington Avenue, the road that runs through the heart of Eden Prairie’s industrial district. At Fred’s, they manufacture deliciousness.

“Bakery is a loose term,” said Fred Mische, who along with wife Mandy Chowen, runs the business. “We’re more of a bread shop with rustic pastries.

“We don’t sell cakes, donuts, or crullers or whatever you call them,” he adds.

“And we’re definitely not like the Cake Boss.”

As its namesake suggests, Fred’s Bread is really about bread.

“As a former science instructor, I obviously have a biolog y a nd chemi st r y background,” said Mische.

“The biology side helps me understand yeast and fermentation; chemistry, the structure.”

The baker’s road to the baking business involved

Just the Facts Business: Fred’s Bread Address: 6872 Washington Ave. S., Eden Prairie Years in location: 2 Employees: Fewer than 10 Products: Breads, rustic pastries and desserts Interesting facts: Fred’s bread has nothing on his wife’s sea salt sprinkled chocolate chunk cookies.

Website: fredsbread.com college, teaching, the Peace Corps, teaching again and then a career change.

“I attended the National Baking Center and studied under two French bakers,” he said. “I tested recipes on my co-workers.”

The majority of F red’s Bread business is wholesale, 80 percent or so; the rest of the business wa lks right through the front door.

Wholesale customers include Hamden Park Co-op in St. Paul, East-Side Food Co-op in Northeast Minne-

apolis, Good Earth Food Coop in St. Cloud, Jules Bistro in St. Cloud, Linden Hills Food Co -op in Minneapo lis, Sikora’s Polish Market in Northeast Minneapolis, as well seasonal outlets in Waconia (At The Farm) and Edina (Farmer’s Market). “ T h e y k n ow,” s a i d Mische, of his retail regulars who call to have loaves of bread set aside, “and they pretty much know when it comes out of the oven.

“A lot of our retail business is local workers who come for lunch breads,” he adds.

They choose between Rye, W heaty W heat, F la x and Oatmeal or Hodge Podge.

“It’s a toss up as to what’s most popular,” adds Mische, “it’s either the Flax and Oat or Hodge Podge.”

Hodge Podge is truly a hodge podge, as the ingredient list includes raisins, walnuts, craisins, pecans, p oppy se e d s a nd ses a me seeds.

They’re also coming for cookies, the sea salt chocolate chunk cookie in particular.

“We have one customer

who makes the trek for just one cookie,” said Mische, “maybe two if she wants to share with her husband.”

PERFECTION Mische hasn’t baked the perfect loaf of bread yet, but he’s getting close.

“It’s evolving,” he said, with a laugh, “but I’m still chasing nuances. That’s the OCD in me.”

If he’s making a Yugoslavian style, he wants it to look and taste like it’s come right out of the village.

W hen a ske d ab out ap pearances, he said he wants the crusty top to split just so.

“I know what I want it to look like,” he adds.

His wife takes the same approach to her cookies. “ Her cho c ol at e chu n k cookies have taken 10 years to develop,” he said.

Neither takes the easy way, and neither would consider a shortcut.

“Ju g g l i n g wh at ne e d s to get done is crazy,” said Mische. “I’m seldom here less than 12 hours. Today it’s going to be 16, maybe 17.”

Yeah, it’s a lot of work making deliciousness.

PHOTOS BY DANIEL HUSS

Fred Mische is the Fred behind Fred’s Bread. Here, he displays the fruits of his labor, hand-shaped breads baked in a steam-injected stone hearth oven.

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It’s in the bag with Eden Prairie man’s invention

BY KARLA WENNERSTROM editor@edenprairienews.com

T

om Zu r n’s Tibet a n ter rier, Wi l s on , c a me with a responsibility, cleaning up the poo.

The Eden Prairie resident says he was looking for a “poolution solution” when he came up with the PooBagger.

P o oB a g g e r s a r e m a d e in Eden Prairie and sold “pretty much everywhere,” according to Zurn.

Zu r n’s pro duc t sc o ops the “poo” directly into an attached bag. You can use any type of plastic bag. Then you u nsnap t he bag i nto the trash. You don’t have to touch the bags, or bend over, according to a news release from the business.

Zurn calls it “a better way to do a common task.”

He works in medical dev ic e m a nu fac t u r i n g a nd says he’s “always looking for a better way to do things.”

Zurn said he’s even willing to work with budding

inventors on their projects.

He drew up a design with teeth to get into grass, an e d ge for sc o opi n g a nd a “big enough” bag, the release said. PooBagger was designed with a handle extension that can be used to avoid bending over to pick up the pet waste. He made models out of cardboard and clay, and worked with someone to build a CAD drawing.

Employees of Stratasys/ Re d Eye i n E den P r a i r ie helped him with the drawing and 3-D prototypes.

He had a mold made at Modern Molding in Delano, where they still do the injection molding of the device.

The items are assembled in Eden Prairie.

“Once p eople get it i n their hands, it just makes sense,” Zurn said. “People have been really receptive.”

Zurn says he has shipped PooBaggers to Florida and Texas.

“It’s pretty ‘poopular,’” he said.

“I’ve delivered to every state but Hawaii,” he said.

According to the release, the pet industry is a $60-billion-per-year business, with 38 percent of homes having at le a st one dog. Pe ople spend more on their pets than they do on their kids, Zurn said. “ Bu si ness i s picki n g up,” he laughs, giving us

Just the Facts Business: PooBagger Address: 13790 Candice Lane, Eden Prairie Years in location: 1.5 Employees: 1 Did you know? Eden Prairie’s Tom Zurn has delivered PooBaggers to every state except Hawaii. He is hoping to get major distribution to get his product into every yard in America, he said.

Website: poobagger.com

the “scoop.”

You can find PooBaggers nearby at Bed Bath & Beyond, hardware and pet supply stores, and specifically at Pet Stuff in Minnetonka, Fido’s Pantry in Excelsior and Ace Hardware in Mound.

The cost is $ 2 9.95 without the extension, $39.95 with. Zurn will even deliver them to Eden P rai rie and Minnetonka add r e s s e s, he said.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

The PooBagger scoops pet waste directly into the attached bag.

Made in Southwest

April 2015 | 7

Approachable beer for all to enjoy Waconia Brewing Company opened its doors in 2014

Just the Facts

BY ERIC KRAUSHAR scores@swpub.com

Address: 255 Main St W., Waconia, MN 55387

I

n Waconia, they work hard, they raise their children right, and at the end of the day they raise a glass together at Waconia Brewing Company, so says their motto.

In October 2014, owners Peter, Dee, Bob and Kaye DeLange opened the doors to the first brewery in Waconia city limits since 1890. As Brewmaster Tom Schufman puts it, “We make approachable beer for everybody to enjoy.”

Situated in downtown, just blocks from Lake Waconia, Waconia Brewing Company is home to four flagship beers — 255 Amber Ale, WacTown Wheat, Carver Co. Kolsch, and the most popular beer, according to taproom assistant manager Drew DeLange, the 90K IPA. Schufman describes the 90K IPA as a “good balanced IPA with a good malt, but is really hoppy. It’s aromatic with a hop flavor. It runs the gamut.”

“Huge loyalty from the community. We see a lot of people coming back. We’re getting a great response. We get a little bit of everyone from all walks of life,” Drew DeLange said.

Bob DeLange, chief operating officer, who doubles as grain carrier and production assistant on other days, was one of the founders of the operation. Once a critic of homemade brews from his three brothers, moving to Waconia after a job transfer with Cargill, the decision was made to open up a taproom.

“We’ve been visiting Waco-

nia since 1995. Pete and Dee relocated here and instead of making it difficult, we just moved to Waconia. We love the community. It’s similar sized to what we lived in back in Iowa. ... Pete and I got thinking, why not start a brewery in Waconia? We did some research and called my brother, Kevin, who had been in the business for 10 years at the time, and we made the decision in January of last year to go for it,” Bob DeLange said.

Luckily for consumers, the talented Schufman, who started at Summit Brewing and later was assistant and lead brewmaster at Fulton Brewing, has collaborated to make much superior beer to what started it all, the homemade kits as a Christmas present.

“I was the one bad mouthing their beers,” said Bob. “My brothers all get identical brew kits and we have a brothers’ weekend and they all bring their home brews and let’s just say it wasn’t good.

It was pretty tough to drink.

It’s been a long journey, but luckily the beer is much better now.”

Schufman started with beers for all drinkers, but has

Business: Waconia Brewing Company

Years in location: Seven months Employees: 11

PHOTOS BY ERIC KRAUSHAR

Growler of goodness. expanded to offer up to eight taps at one time. In March, other beers offered included a brown ale, a single hop IPA, a Belgian 342, and a Mo’Winta Milk.

A limited 250-bomber series, “Quad,” was the company’s first bottle production.

Next up is a gin-aged venture.

“I live in St. Boni and I thought this would be a killer spot to be a head brewer. I talked with Bob and Pete about the vision and we all fired on the same cylinders about what we wanted to accomplish. I’ve come in with some of my ideas and they have theirs, and it’s been going really well so far,”

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202 N Walnut St, Chaska • 952-556-8726

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• Family Friendly • 20 TaP BeerS • BreakFaST SaT & Sun • 60" SCreenS • BeST “PaTio in Town” 2880 CHASKA BLVD • CHASKA 448-5594 • cuzzys.com

Interesting facts: Owners Bob and Pete DeLange have a brother, Kevin, who owns Dry Dock Brewing in Aurora, Colo. Brewmaster Tom Schufman previously worked for Summit and Fulton, two of the most popular beers in the state of Minnesota.

Website: waconiabrewing. com said Schufman, who has been home brewing for 12 years.

Drew DeLange called Waconia Brewing Company a “family-friendly taproom.”

Root beer is a huge hit with youth. There’s something for everyone to enjoy, including board games and free popcorn.

“You see people come into the taproom and enjoy the beer we work hard to make.

That’s a gratifying satisfaction that I get the most out of,” Schufman said.

Brewmaster Tom Schufman, who grew up in Eden Prairie, stirs the mash in the production room at Waconia Brewing Company. One of two beer taprooms in Carver County (the other is Enki Brewing in Victoria), Waconia Brewing Company opened its doors in October 2014.

HELPING BUSINESSES THRIVE One of the strategic goals of the City of Chaska is simply to ensure the development of thriving businesses---from small family-owned businesses to corporate campuses---that invest in the community and provide jobs for the region. This goal is evident in the streamline development and public approval process. By consistently utilizing a variety of local incentives to help write-down development costs, while also working with County and State agencies to seek additional funding to locate businesses to Chaska.

Contact us and learn how the City can help your business thrive.

Chaska City Hall One City Hall Plaza Chaska, MN 55318

952-448-9200 http://www.chaskamn.com/

8 | April 2015

Made in Southwest

How sweet it is Our newest branch is open in the neighborhood

United Sugars continues sugar legacy in Chaska

BY MOLLEE FRANCISCO mfrancisco@swpub.com

F

or more than a c ent u r y, su ga r has been the name of the game at 1060 Stoughton Ave. in Chaska.

The sugar factory — now ow ned by United Suga rs Corp. — has been churning out the sweet stuff on the eastern edge of downtown since 1906.

In its earlier days, the sugar factory (which started as Carver County Sugar Co. and was subsequently known as the Minnesota Sugar Co., the American Beet Co. and American Crystal Sugar) was fully functional, processing piles and piles of sugar beets into table sugar — so much so that Chaska was known for a time as “Sugar City.”

Plant manager Dan Lawrence said that at its height,

the sugar factory ran three shifts and employed about 400 people. That was back during World War II, when the factory could process some 1,750 tons of beets a day.

Since sugar beet processing ended in the early 1970s, operations in Chaska have been a bit more low-key. Today, there are 15 full-time employees on the local payroll and instead of processing sugar beets into table sugar, they primarily store and distribute bulk refined sugar and make liquid sugar.

Lawrence said that about 65 percent of their output is liquid sugar.

That liquid sugar finds its way into everything from soda and yogurt to ice cream and canned fruits and vegetables.

“The sugar that comes out of Minnesota is in a lot of stuff,” said Lawrence.

United Sugars’ customers are well-known food giants including Pepsi, Kraft, Nestle, Schwan’s, ConAgra, Gatorade and Ocean Spray.

So how does one make liquid sugar? The recipe is about as basic as it gets — two parts sugar, one part water.

“It sou nds si mple, but there’s quite a bit more to it,”

Just the Facts Business: United Sugars Corporation Address: 1060 Stoughton Avenue, Chaska Years in location: 109 Employees: 15 full-time (up to 28 during big campaigns) Interesting fact: United Sugars in Chaska uses more than 1 million gallons of water each month.

Website: www. unitedsugars.com

said Lawrence.

L aw renc e proud ly a nnounces that not only have they never had a product recall, they have gone more than 960 days without a losttime injury. “We’re up for one of three Governor’s Safety Awards,” he said.

“We’re the No. 1 distributor of industrial sugar in the nation,” said Lawrence.

And he doesn’t see the demand for sugar decreasing any time soon. “The U.S. market is very strong.”

We have opened a new branch in the community— bringing you the convenience, support and personal attention you deserve along with a wide array of products and services. Stop by and meet the dedicated bankers who can help you reach your goals for financial success.

W. 78t h

Now Open

Eden Prairie Rd.

Main St.

Eden Prairie Village 16550 W. 78th Street 612-294-9501 www.SavageArtsCouncil.org

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9th Annual

2015 EVENTS Awards Reception: April 26 Open to the public. Here’s your chance to see all of the competition art work in one place! $1600 in prizes awarded. Doors open at 1:00pm at the McColl Pond Environmental Learning Center.

Community Art Show: May Artwork displayed at local businesses.

Visit our website for locations.

October 10 ur Mark yonow! r a calend

Classes • Workshops • Gallery Open Studio • Cultural Events Check out our new web site SavageArtsCouncil.org for details & registration © 2015 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. (1246737_14713)