Firm Grows Lynn Facility:
Crystal Foods to Add 25 Jobs; $1.3M in Site
April 5, 2002 By Thor Jourgensen, The Daily Item

A fast-growing international import business has a new home in Lynn thanks to a helping hand from the city.

Crystal Food Imports, Inc. will receive a break on its property tax payments worth hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next decade under an agreement approved yesterday by the city Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC)
The agreement-the seventh of its kind negotiated with a local business - ties reduced tax benefits to Crystal’s commitment to add 25 new jobs to its 86 Bennett St. distributorship over the next 10 years and invest $1.3 million into the property.

Crystal is well on its way to meeting that goal. The company occupies a solid niche in the specialty and gourmet food import market. Crystal imports cheeses, crackers and other items form 16 countries including Italy and France and sells them to local markets.

The East Boston-based firm was doing $6million worth of business five years ago and is on its way to meeting this year’s $18 million goal. Chief Financial Officer William Martin said the firm has already added five Lynn residents to its 45-employee Bennett Street workforce.

“People in the area neighborhood area certainly employable there,” he told the EDIC board of directors.

Crystal acquired the Bennett Street building last November and began renovations. As a distribution firm, Crystal receives import shipments in containers, unloads the metal containers and then sends them back to their destinations.

The firm’s expansion into West Lynn makes Crystal one of the first business to take an interest in Lynn during Mayor Edward J. “Chip” Clancy, Jr. first six months in office. Clancy has discussed Crystal’s plans several times with Martin and other company principals.

“He has applied a direct approach to dealing with them which is the key,” EDIC board chairman Charles Gaeta said.

Crystal’s goal of building up to a 75-employee workforce over the next five years mirrors the long-term commitment EDIC has made with the firm through tax increment financing.

The increment is essentially a commercial property tax break that is gradually reduced over a 10-year period. It was instrumental in helping another Bennett Street business, ERC Wiping Products, get a foothold in the city four years ago.

“It’s one of the best tools we have,” Development Director Stephen Harausz said