SALEM, MA — Connolly Brothers, Inc. and Tropical Products Inc., a private-label formulator and bottler of personal care, pet care, and home products, recently held a steel topping off celebration at 373 Highland Avenue in Salem, Massachusetts. Once in its new location, Tropical Products will expand operations from eight to 20 automated filling lines for a variety of products. The new manufacturing and office headquarters will also enable the company to double the size of its workforce by employing up to 120 employees from Salem and surrounding North Shore communities.

At the topping off, Ed Berman, President of Tropical Products, was joined in signing the final steel beam by Co-Owner and wife Kerry Berman, Vice President of Finance and Operations Renee Dionne, and several other company representatives. Connolly Brothers President Jay Connolly and Vice President of Real Estate/Development Thaddeus Minshall were also in attendance with several Connolly Brothers staff, along with representatives from Cambridge Savings Bank and accounting firm, CRR, LLP.

The final beam completed the outline of a single-story, bi-leveled building that will be nearly 100,000 square feet with a partial mezzanine, including a four-truck loading dock. Berman said Tropical Products has grown as some businesses are expressing renewed interest in U.S.-based manufacturing and bottling in the wake of concerns about reliability and quality in some overseas markets.

“During the height of the COVID pandemic, Tropical Products stepped up with many donations of hand sanitizer products to the local community,” Connolly said. “It is our pleasure to be able to help them expand on the North Shore as they fulfill the manufacturing and bottling needs of their many business clients from across the U.S.”