February 26, 2004
HEALEY RECOGNIZES VERYFINE FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT
LITTLETON – Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey today honored Veryfine Products with the Governor’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Award.
Presented monthly as part of Governor Mitt Romney’s “Jobs First” initiative, the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award recognizes individuals who best demonstrate the innovation and spirit that drive the Massachusetts economy and who inspire others to turn their ideas into action.
“Governor Romney and I established this award to honor and celebrate companies within the Commonwealth that have shown ingenuity and strength in the marketplace,” said Healey. “Today I am pleased to present Veryfine with this award to highlight their leadership in creative entrepreneurship and job creation.”
Veryfine is a family-owned producer of 100 percent fruit juices and a national competitor in the juice-flavored water market. Founded in the 1880s as a vinegar company, Veryfine has been responsible for many innovations in the juice drink business, from high-volume apple juice production in the 1950s to plastic juice bottling in the 1980s to juice drinks and ices in the past few years. Veryfine’s Fruit2O®, a fruit-flavored water, was unveiled in 1999, and now accounts for half of its sales.
In addition to its 100 percent fruit juices, Veryfine produces juice drinks, Fruit2O® flavored waters, Fruit2O Plus™ Nectars, Veryfine Chillers and Veryfine Balsams Spring Water. Veryfine is also a significant community contributor to environmental causes, particularly in water cleanliness and energy efficiency.
With more than 350 employees in Massachusetts, the company is actively recruiting new personnel.
“Veryfine has come a long way since its beginnings in the 1800s,” said Healey. “In the changing world of consumer products they have been able to keep up with consumer demands for innovation and ingenuity, and as anyone can plainly see, Veryfine has proven itself to be a responsible corporate citizen and a friend to the community.”
“Veryfine is proud to be publicly recognized by the Governor’s office,” said Samuel Rowse, president of Veryfine Products. “The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award is a testament, not only to our dedication to employees, but to Veryfine’s innovative spirit. From juices to our new Fruit2O® flavored water, it is this forward thinking that will continue to position Veryfine as an integral partner in the Massachusetts business community and leader in its economic growth.”
Since July, the Romney Administration has presented the Governor’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Award to Baril Die Company of Haverhill, Yankee Candle Company of South Deerfield, The Chamberlain Group of Great Barrington, Stacy’s Pita Chips of Randolph, Finale of Boston, ZipCar of Cambridge and posthumously to the founder of Inc. Magazine, Bernie Goldhirsh.
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