Packaging plant to open
Stephen Trachtenberg stood in his new building in Minneota, looked around and said, “It’s a beautiful building. I’m absolutely flattered.”
He’d just purchased the Schott Building in Minneota and plans to turn it into a packaging and distribution warehouse for his company, “Chasing Our Tails, Inc.”
ADOM (Area Development of Minneota) last week sold the building to Trachtenberg for $15,000 and also received a $5,000 donation to help with other community developments.
“The donation is to help ADOM further their work in the community,” said Trachtenberg.”
Along with a new manufacturing plant he is starting up in a newly purchased facility in Tracy, and a meat processing facility in Sanborn, Trachtenberg hopes to have his business up and running by Memorial Day.
“We’re passionate about our business, our community,” said Trachtenberg.
He made the same donation to Tracy to their development group. When the building is up and running, it will be called, “Sky Tinted Products Group.” “That’s the name you’ll see on the building,” he said.
His fiancée, Elena Kalogeropoulous, who is already a big part of the business, will operate the Minneota plant.
“We’re excited about coming here and I can’t wait to get started,” she said. “She’ll be responsible for the final quality control,” Trachtenberg said.
“Chasing Our Tails, Inc.” has been based out of Hudson, New Hampshire. Now it has a home in Southwestern Minnesota. The company produces what it calls a single ingredient and preservative-free product.
“We never use fillers, meat meals, animal by-products or anything artificial in our treats,” says the company website. Trachtenberg indicated, “We have 165 products, all treats, including dehydrated to freeze dried to smoked products.”
The website says all the treats are single ingredient U.S. sourced and U.S. made. They’re gluten free and grain free. They include items such as smoked bones and dehydrated treats.
Trachtenberg has purchased a home in Walnut Grove and intends to be totally in the center of the operation.
“It’s a beautiful thing when it all comes together,” he said.
ADOM owned the building after it was donated to the City of Minneota by Owen Schott.
“Schott (Owen) and I think alike. This is home, this is where we are,” said Trachtenberg about the former owner of the building. Eric Bot of ADOM was highly responsible for getting Trachtenberg in Minneota.
The County Fair grocery building in Marshall was originally targeted by Trachtenberg. But it didn’t work out and Bot communicated with Trachtenberg and the negotiations for the building started shortly after. “Eric Bot reached out to us first,” said Trachtenberg.
Brad Minnehan of ADOM said, “That was the goal, to bring jobs to Minneota.” Trachtenberg said anywhere from eight to 16 jobs would be created in Minneota.
Another area firm was also interested in the building.
“It was a really hard decision for us,” said Minnehan. He added, “Who ever thought two people would be interested in the building right now?” he chuckled.
Minnehan called it, “An awesome thing for Minneota.” The two-story building in Minneota will be completely used by the new company. “We’ll be doing packaging, wall-to-wall,” said Trachtenberg.
The company, including equipment, will be moved from New Hampshire. “It’s closer to our raw materials,” he said. With Sanborn producing the product, Tracy developing it and Minneota doing the shipping, Trachtenberg has a unique opportunity to be in the center of a “farm to pet bowl” operation.
This is his 11th year of business. “It’s not a start-up operation,” he said. A box assembly business may also be set up in the former Schott building.
“This is a clean building, it has plenty of power, a loading dock and a welcoming community,” said Trachtenberg.
He fully intends to invest himself in this area and said, “I need to be where I’m wanted, where I’m appreciated.”
He’s so serious about his plant being part of the community he’s already dedicated to, “Start buying homes in the area and communities we are in,” he said.
“We encourage and empower our employees to live in the community and spend their money here,” said Trachtenberg.
“The interesting thing is it’s worked out the right way,” said Trachtenberg. He looked around his new building, flipped a couple of switches and the lights came on.
“Hey, I found the switches,” he said, his face lighting up almost as much as the lights above. Kalogeropoulous has 15 years invested as a mortgage banker.
She’s bringing a wealth of experience in the business and told The Mascot she’s excited to get started in this community.