In partnership with WVIA, with support from Coterra Energy, we’re bringing you a look behind the scenes at some of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s most successful manufacturing operations. Join us as we get to know the companies, the unique products and the hardworking people leading the way in reestablishing NEPA as a driving force in global manufacturing.
Follow along on this 10-part series that explores NEPA @ Work.
“We Make Your Brand”
US Hydrations technically got its start under a different name in 1996. In those early days on Kennedy Blvd. in Pittston, it was called Nature’s Way Purewater. They were a much smaller operation then – employing less than 30 people. Water, however, was still the name of the game. Nature’s Way bottled and delivered natural spring water all over Northeastern Pennsylvania.
New leadership and a new vision
By 2000, as the company found itself in an increasingly saturated marketplace, original shareholder, local entrepreneur and grocery store magnate, Sandy Insalaco Sr. took over as majority owner and Board Chairman. And, from there, the only direction was up. “His history of success is well known all over, and he really provided a comfort level for customers coming in like executives from Pepsi or Coke,” says Joe Lapchack, President and CEO at US Hydrations. Lapchack, who started at Nature’s Way in 2003, links Insalaco’s leadership to the company’s enduring growth. “These bigger customers would come in and talk to him and they understood that he really knew the industry.”
Creating a footprint in beverage manufacturing
Under Insalaco’s leadership, Nature’s Way expanded into beverage manufacturing. The company moved from Downtown Pittston to its first of three new locations and current manufacturing headquarters in the Grimes Industrial Park. The 400,000 square foot facility allowed the company to expand production beyond bottled spring water. The addition of new, advanced manufacturing and bottling equipment and added distribution space launched (or re-launched) the small beverage company onto a whole new playing field.
Success from investment in both people and technology
US Hydrations manufactures beverage products for major national and global brands. Essentially, the beverage brand sends its recipes, bottles, caps and packaging to US Hydrations. They manufacture it and either ship it out directly where it ends up on grocery store shelves, or they keep it stored in their warehouses.
They primarily focus on premium water products – alkaline water, flavored water and enhanced water. This requires meticulous quality control as many of the products are created using proprietary recipes and ingredients. Along with their bustling production floor, US Hydrations also employs an on-site laboratory for batching, testing and quality control.
From raw material to supermarket shelves
The manufacturing technology covers everything from reverse osmosis for water purification, blow molding technology for creating countless varieties of bottle shapes and sizes, in-line filtration, carbonation, ozonation and UV light treatment. From beverage development to conditioning the raw materials, to creating the bottles and packaging to the product landing on grocery store shelves, US Hydrations is a one-stop shop.
Really, what kind of gives us an edge over our competitors is that we can make decisions quickly. We don’t have shareholders that we have to call. If we want to buy a piece of equipment, I call Sandy and he says, ‘I’ll be there in ten minutes and we’ll talk about it.’ That’s really the advantage. They used to say that the big fish ate the small fish, but in reality, it’s the fast fish that eats the small fish. And that’s us, we’re fast.
Rebranding and Reimagining the Possibilities
US Hydrations produces national and global beverage brands
In 2016, Nature’s Way Purewater rebranded as US Hydrations. “The Nature’s Way name was everywhere. It was on vitamins and cosmetics and just so many products,” said Lapchack. “We wanted to switch to a name that was emblematic of what we were – water and hydration.” In roughly 25 years, US Hydrations has expanded five-fold. In addition to their headquarters and production facility, they also now operate distribution centers in both the Grimes Industrial Park and CenterPoint Commerce and Trade Park in Pittston.
And the workforce grew with them…
US Hydration’s rise over the past 25 years also extends beyond their massive local footprint. “When I started in 2003, we had 28 employees. Now, I believe we’re up to about 160,” Lapchack said. Their state-of-the-art buildings are filled with everything from forklift drivers and equipment operators to microbiology techs, engineers and sanitation crews.
While the company’s growth and success has been rapid and inspirational, finding and keeping their talented team has proven the most important, if not most difficult task. According to Lapchack, “There’s a lot of competition up here for this workforce. Where we are located, we have Amazon, Target, Lowe’s and Home Depot.” He continues. “Everyone’s kind of fighting for those same people.”
A family atmosphere
For US Hydrations, rapid growth in both physical footprint and production just wouldn’t have been possible without the team they built right here at home in NEPA. That took some work, according to Lapchack. “Years ago, when we were on a shoestring budget, we couldn’t pay as much. We couldn’t have company picnics,” he said. “But as we grew and became more successful financially, we started becoming more successful competing for employees.” Now, by Lapchack’s estimation, US Hydrations is paying one of the higher rates in the area. And creating that close-knit family atmosphere goes well beyond the paycheck. “We have great benefits and a great 401k. We celebrate everyone’s birthday and they get a gift.” He continued. “We’re back to having company picnics again, too. Our employees just love it here.”
“We really just have the greatest people. It’s a joy to come to work.” – Joe Lapcack, President/CEO
The company’s sharp rise and its subsequent success is emblematic of the culture inside its walls and the good people wearing the logo on their shirts. “We have vice presidents that’ll come down in the middle of the night to load a truck if it’s needed,” said Lapchack. “We still just kind of operate small like that. And that loyalty and dedication comes from the top down.”
A nationally-recognized industry leader
Today, with the combination of strong, inspired leadership, a talented and dedicated workforce, strategic investments in technology, training and equipment, US Hydrations has become a true local success story. The once, small purified water bottling company on Kennedy Blvd. has built itself up into one of the nation’s leading one-stop, high-volume beverage manufacturers. Their current footprint covers 1 million square feet of production and warehouse space. They have the capability to store up to 250,000 gallons of water. And by all indications, they’re not even close to finished growing.
Since its founding in 1999, US Hydrations has made a regular practice of responding to communities in need. When natural disasters, or other tragedies strike a community, fresh drinking water often tops the list of most-needed resources.
According to President/ CEO, Joe Lapchack, “We’ve donated water for years. And it used to be like a church picnic or something and we would call one of our customers and ask if we could donate like ten cases of Life Water or what have you. Then we just decided that we should have our own program. So, we got our own labels designed and we were off to the races. And we’re always sending this water out to different causes. So, we always keep about 10,000 cases set aside.”
To learn more about the water donation program, contact US Hydrations via their website.
DiscoverNEPA and WVIA are proud to highlight the tremendous manufacturing organizations and opportunities within our region. We offer a special thank you to Coterra Energy for generously supporting this project.
