Built on the foundation that it’s the people that make the difference, American Italian Pasta Company (AIPC), a company of Winland Foods, Inc., will celebrate its 35-year anniversary in 2023. As North America’s largest producer of dry pasta, AIPC sets the stage with new leadership to continue the tradition of pride in making pasta in Kansas City’s northland community by providing “more than a job” to the local workforce through its apprenticeship and skill-building programs.

“We’re here to preserve a legacy inspired by our employees – some of whom have been with our local AIPC plant for more than 30 years – while fostering an environment where we all can thrive, learn, and develop skills needed to preserve the future of food manufacturing,” said Josh Brattin, AIPC Plant Manager, Excelsior Springs, Mo.

In 2023, AIPC’s Excelsior Springs, Mo. plant will kick off its apprenticeship and training programs in the areas of electrical controls and mechanical systems, milling science and food batch-making. The first phase initiative will be in partnership with various technical and trade schools and community workforce programs that provide practical hands-on training to prepare the local labor market with skills to be well-rounded, productive employees.

“As we realize the current challenges of the workforce at large and reflecting on what has brought us success these 35 years, we feel it’s our responsibility as an employer to aid in developing skilled workers, not only in the food manufacturing space but to mentor them in all aspects of what it means to be fully employed,” said Lydia Alvarez, Human Resource Manager.

AIPC’s Excelsior Springs, Mo. plant will increase its current workforce of 200 by an additional 50, which will include full-time, nonexempt positions, apprenticeships, and internships.

AIPC was founded in 1988 in Excelsior Springs, Mo., and manufactures private label and branded pasta for retail grocery, foodservice, and co-pack customer throughout the United States. AIPC is a company of Winland Foods, Inc.’s Meal Preparation business owned by Investindustrial.

In late 2022, TreeHouse Foods, Inc. completed the sale of a significant portion of its Meal Preparation business to Investindustrial for $950 million. The divested business became Winland Foods, Inc.