Sinclair Plans Plant To Produce Stickers

A British company that produces apple stickers for fruit warehouses plans to open a manufacturing plant next summer in the Port of Chelan County’s Olds Station Industrial Park.

Sinclair Systems International Inc., based in Norwich, England, is expected to sign a letter of intent with the port within a week to lease about half of a 30,000-square-foot building the port is constructing.

The decision was announced Thursday by the Port of Chelan County and Quest for Economic Development Inc., both of which recruited Sinclair to the area.

“This company will improve the viability of the agriculture industry in this region and will create the type of family wage jobs that Quest is intent on creating for the community,” said Dan Halstrom, Quest vice president.

The privately held company produces and distributes the tiny stickers that are placed on apples and other fruit sold in retail stores. Major customers include Dole, Sunkist, Ocean Spray and Del Monte. It also makes the equipment that applies the labels to the fruit.

The company will employ 15 people initially in Wenatchee, a major apple-growing area in central Washington, Quest officials said.