Villarina’s Pasta & Fine Foods is moving its manufacturing center to Danbury.
"It was a New York company. Our business has moved dramatically into Connecticut," said Joe Filc, who bought the company in 2003. Villarina's operates pasta and fine food shops in, New Milford, Ridgefield, , Westport and it formerly ran one in Bethel. "People are talking about opening one in the Danbury, Bethel area, but we're already all around that."
Villarina's is in the process of building its new 5,700-square-foot facility at the Shelter Rock Business Center in Danbury. Filc said opening in Danbury will save his company a lot of money. He's paying something like $35 per square foot in New Rochelle, and he'll pay $7.50 in Danbury.
"This is a quality specialty manufacuring company. He's a member of the chamber and he saw major overhead cost reductions by this move," said Stephen Bull, president of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce.
“We will have a new state of the art commercial kitchen, along with our array of pasta and ravioli production equipment. said Filc. “We are looking forward in better servicing our 7 Connecticut stores along with our New York stores, expanding our wholesale manufacturing capabilities and, increase our private label and custom kitchen business”.
Filc said where it now takes as long as 45 minutes from factory to store, that will be cut to no more than 15 in several cases.
The new facility will enhance the Villarina’s distribution network; expanding throughout New England to new clients. Villarina’s new facility has several large refrigerated/freezer walk-in storage and is air temperature controlled. Villarina’s is also in the process of applying for USDA permits as well.
Villarina’s Pasta & Fine Foods is an Italian food manufacturing company, being in business for over 40 years. It originated in Tuckahoe, New York. Villarina’s offers fresh pastas, gourmet raviolis, sauces, prepared dinners, provides custom kitchen work, and distributes Gourmet food products.
Filc said the new space can be expanded, should other space in the Shelter Rock Business Center open up.
"Right now I've got nine people, but we're going to grow to 18. I plan to expand over the next 18 months," Filc said.
