Letter: Cape Pond's non-fishing business still stron

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March 8, 2013

Letter: Cape Pond's non-fishing business still stron

Anonymous Gloucester Daily Times The Gloucester Daily Times Fri Mar 08, 2013, 12:00 AM EST

To the editor:

“Reports of our death,” as Mark Twain said, “are greatly exaggerated!”

We all want to assure you that Cape Pond Ice Company and our “Coolest Guys” team is alive and well, and looking forward to continuing our ice service to you with the same reputation for reliability, quality, and competitive pricing that we have earned over the past 165 years.

You may hear that our 1947 Gloucester waterfront ice factory real estate is currently on the market — the fishing industry side of our business has been severely hurt by federal regulations and cutbacks, and the future for the fishing industry’s demands for 200 tons of reliable daily ice capacity is not rosy..

However, the packaged ice, delivery and other block ice side of our business is financially healthy, sound, and continuing. We are also continuing our business partnership with the fifth-generation Rossi family’s Eastern Ice Company in Fall River and Brockton and their new state-of-the art IPIA certified ice manufacturing facility.

When we are able to sell the Gloucester harborfront real estate — which will likely be a long process due to zoning restrictions — we plan to operate the Cape Pond Ice Company from a new Gloucester facility, as well as our Peabody Icehouse and Bresnahan Ice, Lawrence, locations.

It is also possible that we continue to operate from our existing Commercial Street plant, but as a tenant to a new owner who can better utilize the rest of the acre of real estate.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to speak to any of our staff and drivers, Bob Despres, Cathy Eastman or myself.

Thank you for your continued business and support, and “stay cool”!

R. SCOTT MEMHARD

President & General Manager

Cape Pond Ice