The Millennium building was designed, constructed, and operates with focus on energy efficiency, including the use of high levels of wall and roof insulation, argon windows, and a reflective white roof. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, as well as the production process equipment, have stressed innovation to improve energy use. Strategies employed include recovering heat from production equipment to heat the building, pre-heat process water, and pre-heat water used for sanitation. Over 90% of the building's heating load is supplied by recovered waste heat from production equipment. Paved and roofing surfaces on the site are light in color to reduce any heat island effects. The site has native plantings, which are low-maintenance and do not require watering after establishment. Water use is reduced by installing low-flow and waterless plumbing fixtures. An additional savings, up to 17,000 gallons/month of water, is achieved through rainwater harvesting. Large windows and skylights have been installed to provide ample daylight and views in the working areas to reduce energy use and improve the indoor environment. Materials were selected for their recycled content, for being regionally harvested, or for having low levels of VOC's.

Phase One of the Millennium Plant was completed in April 2010. LEED® Platinum certification was awarded two months later. The official Ribbon Cutting Event took place on August 13, 2010. Later in October, Shearer's was honored to have Secretary of Energy, Dr. Steven Chu, visit the site. This past April, Phase Two of the project for the production of potato chips, was completed. Six new hand kettles and a 4200 pound per hour continuous fryer manufacture a total of 7200 pounds of potato chips hourly. 258 jobs have been created in the past year at the new plant.

 

 

 

Headquartered in Brewster, Ohio, and celebrating 37 years of great snacking in 2011, Shearer’s Foods, Inc., is the manufacturer/distributor of Shearer’s Award-Winning Snacks. Shearer’s associates and Shearer’s products share the commitment to Shearer Perfection, and this commitment has been acknowledged through the receipt of many awards both within the snack food industry and across Shearer’s business landscape. Real Simple magazine ranked Shearer’s the “Best Chips with a Beer” and Newsweek magazine commented Shearer’s potato chips were “...crisply addictive.” Country Livingmagazine named Shearer’s the best potato chips in Ohio! The company has twice been named Snack Manufacturer of the Year by Snack Food and Wholesale Bakery magazine. Shearer’s has been awarded the Weatherhead 100, the NEO Success Award, the Cascade Capital Business Growth Award and The Entrepreneurs EDGE Award as a top growth and performance company in Northeast Ohio. The Weatherhead School of Management has also recognized Shearer’s as one of its Family Firms of Distinction. Both the Canton (Ohio) and the Massillon (Ohio) Chambers of Commerce have honored Shearer’s as their Business of the Year. Shearer’s potato chips received the Gold Medal Award from the American Tasting Institute of San Francisco for the best potato chips in America. The company has been recognized for manufacturing excellence and sustainability by winning the Emerald Award, theManny Award, the Evolution of Manufacturing Award and the Innovation in Business Award. Shearer's has been consistently judged as a top employer in Northeast Ohio by winning the North Coast 99, and is the only company to win this award all twelve years of its existence! Shearer’s has been recognized for their outstanding customer service by winning the Cleveland Food Dealers Association’s Vendor of the Year Award, the Gordon Food ServiceVIP Award, the PL Buyer Category Colonel Award and Smart Business magazine’s World Class Customer Service Award. Shearer’s has earned the Pillar Award as well as the Shatten Civic Award for their far-reaching community service efforts. Shearer’s Snacks are distributed throughout North America and overseas.