FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — October 1, 2018
Contact: Mary Beth Schubert, marybeth.schubert@co.dakota.mn.us

12 winners from Dakota and Scott counties

The Dakota-Scott Workforce Development Board has recognized 12 area organizations as Employers of Excellence for their employee retention, compensation and training practices. The Workforce Development Board wanted to recognize some of the best employers in Dakota and Scott counties and provide vital information to companies about the practices they use to attract and retain employees. With the help of local sponsors, the board commissioned a study and asked area employers to participate. This year, 29 organizations took part.

Each participant completed a 40-question survey that allowed their employment practices to be analyzed by a consulting firm. Every organization participating in the survey received a 20-page report detailing the information on their company and the results of the survey. Employers were evaluated on numerous metrics: turnover, rate of growth, promotion rates, employee evaluations and feedback, percentage of employee injured, diversity of management, benefits offered, training expenditures, paid days off, and increase in pay.

The Employers of Excellence were recognized at a banquet on Thursday, Sept. 27. The winners are:

Small Employer (under 75 employees)

• Carlson Capital Management, Hastings
• Custom Drapery and Blinds by Esch, LLC, Burnsville
• Hydra-Flex, Inc., Eagan
• Reese Enterprises, Inc., Rosemount

Mid-Size Employer (75–200 employees)

• Dakota Electric Association, Farmington
• Firefly Credit Union, Burnsville
• The Smead Manufacturing Company, Hastings
• Apothecary Products, LLC, Burnsville

Large Employer (over 200 employees)

• Entrust Datacard, Shakopee
• Lifeworks Services, Inc., Eagan
• Prime Therapeutics, Eagan
• UTC Aerospace Systems, Burnsville

Matt Smith
County Manager
www.dakotacounty.us

Mary Beth Schubert
Director of Communications
651-438-8179

Scott Wente
Communications Specialist
651-438-4244

Leading Consumer Health Products Company Expands Portfolio

NEWS RELEASE – For Immediate Release

MINNEAPOLIS, July 30, 2018 –  Apothecary Products, LLC, a leading innovator, manufacturer and distributor of consumer healthcare products, has announced the acquisition of SOFT Style, LLC based in Boulder, Colorado. SOFT Style, LLC develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of breastfeeding support products under the bamboobies® brand. SOFT Style will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Apothecary Products. There will be no significant changes to day-to-day business operations for the foreseeable future.

Nathan Hanson, President and CEO of Apothecary Products, stated, “We are very excited to bring these two complementary companies together. This strategic acquisition enhances APL’s go forward branded plans to help moms with young families take care of themselves. This acquisition joins the talent and capabilities of both organizations which significantly improves our ability to best serve our customers and consumers with innovative branded solutions. Through our increased scale, expanded portfolio and combined expertise in delivering consumer preferred solutions world-wide, we can provide a platform for future innovation, growth and increased value. I have great admiration for the SOFT Style team and their ability to nimbly deliver meaningful innovation that helps breastfeeding moms. I would like to personally thank Kerry Gilmartin, former owner and CEO of SOFT Style, for her leadership and vision in building a truly insightful brand.” Ms. Gilmartin will continue to support brand growth as a key strategic advisor to Mr. Hanson.

Kerry Gilmartin, SOFT Style’s founder and CEO, stated, “We are incredibly excited to partner with Apothecary as we enter our next phase of growth. The bamboobies brand will leverage their consumer products expertise and their financial and operational strength to scale more swiftly and gracefully. The bamboobies brand promise of supporting new mothers, babies and their world will be continued as innovation grounded in high quality and eco-friendly design are shared values.”

About SOFT Style
SOFT Style, under the bamboobies brand, develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of top-rated, eco-friendly breastfeeding support products. The portfolio includes nursing shawls, nursing tanks and bras, disposable and washable nursing pads, and organic nipple balm. bamboobies mission is to ensure that new mothers and babies are happier and healthier, and so is their world. Founded in 2010 and based in Boulder, Colorado.
Visit www.buybamboobies.com to learn more.

About Apothecary Products
Apothecary Products, LLC is a leading innovator, manufacturer, marketer, and supplier of simple self-care solutions, pharmacy supplies and wellness aids. Headquartered in Burnsville, Minnesota, the company has several strategic manufacturing partners in the U.S. and internationally.

• Private Equity-backed by Norwest Equity Partners: a leading private equity investment firm with global presence and Midwest roots
• Fully integrated infrastructure with significant scale and world-class management team
• Strong market share in several product categories, many pioneered by Apothecary Products
• Domestic and international presence – Apothecary Products can be found in 50+ countries.
• Significant presence in top retailers
• Innovation driven

Visit www.apothecaryproducts.com to learn more.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Meg Heitlinger
VP – Marketing & Sales
SOFT Style, LLC.
makers of bamboobies
800.560.7131

Jean Roskam
Senior VP of Marketing
Apothecary Products
952.808.8301
media@apothecaryproducts.com

Read the article on MRCI’s website

When Burnsville-based Apothecary Products needs to get orders packaged and out to clients quickly, they have a unique workforce standing by ready to help: MRCI.

Apothecary Products is a leading innovator, manufacturer, marketer, and supplier of simple self-care solutions, pharmacy supplies and wellness aids. Apothecary Products provides consumer packaged goods products found in major retailers worldwide. Products packaged, in part, by MRCI clients.

“There have been multiple benefits in using MRCI,” says Kristine Clausen, Director of Human Resources for Apothecary. “Through the relationship with MRCI, we are able to manufacturer our products achieving our customers’ expectations on quality and value. Plus, part of our culture here at Apothecary Products is our commitment to caring, as our corporate values spell out “We Care”. So we see this partnership as an extension of that.”

On average, 25 MRCI clients support the Apothecary Products team onsite daily at the Burnsville headquarters.

“Our team members here really do a good job of making the MRCI clients feel like an extension of the team,” she says. “They are not segregated, they are right on the floor with everyone else. They all eat lunch and take breaks together. They help make us better!”

Apothecary Products also hosts employment appreciation events that always include MRCI talent and staff which shows MRCI workers how much they are appreciated and truly are part of the team. Apothecary believes in MRCI’s mission and goes well “above and beyond” to ensure success with that mission.

Apothecary Forecast Manager Kent Halvorson has fostered the MRCI relationship for a number of years. “It’s a good way for APL to help the community by giving MRCI individuals the opportunity to work and in return we get a good value for the work, including price and quality”. Kent also said a benefit of the relationship is how pricing is structured. He indicates that pricing with APL is by the unit versus labor hour.”

Rhonda Kalal, who is in charge of business development for MRCI in the South Metro, says one of the best things about MRCI’s long-time employment relationship with Apothecary Products is the trust and reliability that has been built amongst the two teams.

“Through cooperation and good communication, almost all of our clients can participate at some level.” Kalal says. “Together we share needs and find solutions. We appreciate the cooperation, efficiencies and how well this company communicates with us.”

In addition to the onsite work crews, Apothecary Products also provides a great deal of work for multiple MRCI sites within the metro area and in southern Minnesota. At MRCI Shakopee alone they provide MRCI with around 50,000 different items per month to package.  The many employment opportunities provided through Apothecary are vital to the success of so many individuals, giving them a chance to become trained and skilled for community work.

Tony Ryan, a buyer/planner for Apothecary says MRCI’s willingness to be flexible and ability to adapt to changes has been crucial to the success of the partnership.

“MRCI greatly benefits APL by extending our internal and external Production capabilities by providing a very cost effective and flexible work force. Because of the type of products we sell and the customers we are in business with our demands for items will drastically increase or decrease from week to week, this makes planning very difficult but MRCI has a very large pool of clients at several different locations that gives APL a huge extension to our internal work capacity in a very short notice so we can fulfill customer demands,” Ryan says.

In turn, MRCI appreciates Apothecary’s willingness to reach out when needed.

Kalal says, “Apothecary’s inclusion mentality runs throughout the organization and is evident in the way they treat our clients like their own employees at the site. Their culture of inclusion is also evident in the way they take time to work with us if there is ever a problem. MRCI and Apothecary Products are definitely in this together and we so appreciate their partnership and dedication!”

Leading Consumer Health Products Company Expands Portfolio

MINNEAPOLIS, August 2, 2016 – Apothecary Products, LLC, a leading innovator, manufacturer and distributor of consumer healthcare products and pharmacy supplies, has announced the acquisition of Health Enterprises, Inc. based in North Attleboro, Massachusetts. Health Enterprises develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of consumer health products under the Acu-Life^® brand, as well as private label. Health Enterprises will operate as an independent business unit of Apothecary Products.  There will be no significant changes to day-to-day business operations for the foreseeable future.

Nathan Hanson, President and CEO of Apothecary Products, stated, “We are very excited to bring these two complementary companies together. This acquisition reinforces our core market position in medication management while greatly enhancing our eye, ear and injury care portfolio. Additionally, through combined best practice and insight sharing, our abilities are greatly enhanced to provide innovative self-care solutions for consumers and greater growth to our customers. I have great admiration for the Health Enterprises team and their ability to deliver meaningful innovation that truly benefits customers and consumers.  I would like to personally thank Glenn Leman, former owner and CEO of Health Enterprises, for his leadership and vision in building a truly strong organization.”  Mr. Leman will continue in a consultative role within the new organization.

“We are excited about the opportunity to leverage the strengths of both organizations to better serve our customers and consumers with innovative solutions,” stated Brendan Leonard, President of Health Enterprises. “Our expanded portfolio and combined expertise in delivering consumer preferred solutions will provide a strong platform for future innovation and growth.”

About Health Enterprises:
Health Enterprises develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of consumer health products under the Acu-life^® brand, as well as private label. The portfolio includes pill reminders, oral syringes, ear plugs and first aid products. Health Enterprises was founded in 1973 and is based in North Attleboro, Massachusetts and currently partners with customers in over 50 countries globally.  Visit www.healthenterprises.com to learn more.

About Apothecary Products:
Apothecary Products is a category innovator offering both branded and private label solutions to customers that include the majority of the US retailers (food, drug, mass, club), independent pharmacies and wholesalers with an international presence in over 80 countries. Apothecary Products’ brands Ezy Dose^®, Flents^®, Protechs^® and Wipe ‘N Clear^® are market leaders in the medication management, pharmacy supply and eye, ear and injury care categories.  Apothecary Products is headquartered in Burnsville, Minnesota and has several strategic manufacturing partners in the U.S. and internationally. Visit www.apothecaryproducts.com to learn more.