Monadnock Paper Mills Celebrates 200 Years Of Continuous Operation
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How does a company founded just a few years after the War of 1812 remain profitable and relevant in the twenty-first century? Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc., of Bennington, New Hampshire, has had two centuries to figure that out.
It’s not like they’ve been in an easy business, either. The paper industry has seen the closure of dozens of mills across the country in the last few decades. “New Hampshire had lots of paper mills, and there are three of us left,” said Richard Verney, the company’s Chairman of the Board and CEO. “Fitchburg, Massachusetts used to be the paper mill capital of the world. Then the Midwest took over.” The commoditization of much of the paper market drove many mills under.
One element of Monadnock’s longevity has been in finding more lucrative markets. “My attitude is, you just have to do what you have to do,” Verney explained. “As the paper business changed, we had to change with it.” The company has made a concerted effort to pursue higher value product lines requiring the best quality paper, and in building strong customer relations. “Quality has always been a hallmark of Monadnock,” said Verney. “We continue to spend a lot of time finding niche products the big guys don’t want to make and we establish relationships with our customers you just don’t get if you just sell newsprint.”
The company’s customers couldn’t be happier that they do. “Monadnock is unique, with their sense of history – their pride and their dedication to the papermaking industry,” said Sue Losco, Marketing Manager with Nielson Bainbridge Group, a fast-growing company in the framing and framing products business that uses Monadnock paper to produce their framing mattes. “They’re still interested in the beauty of paper, and in making a fine product. We use them for our highest end products, especially our 100% cotton product. They’re very nice people who are into what they do and passionate about papermaking.”
Tom Gallo agrees. He’s VP of Strategic Business Development for G3 Enterprises, a wine packaging and raw material logistics company owned by the famed Gallo family. “Monadnock is really focused on our partnership,” he said. “They think long-term, and they have very innovative product development.” He pointed specifically to a 100% post-consumer recycled wine label stock they developed specifically for white wine bottles that are chilled, to reduce the plastic used in the old label stock. “It runs great on our high-speed lines. It has a side benefit in that it doesn’t ‘gray out’ when the bottle is put on ice – it keeps the label looking beautiful. And it’s greener, more sustainable, and reduces our carbon footprint.”
