Pretzel Company Starts $8.5 Million Expansion

An $8.5 million tax-exempt loan provided by Customers Bank is allowing Unique Pretzels Bakery Inc. to break ground on a new manufacturing and warehouse expansion that will bring at least 24 new jobs to the Reading area.

Officials held a groundbreaking ceremony at Unique Pretzels' site at 215 E. Bellevue Ave. in Muhlenberg Township on Tuesday.

For William P. Spannuth, Chief Financial Officer for Unique Pretzels and a sixth generation member of the 120-year old family business, the timing couldn't be better.

"Our 'problem' was the growing demand for our products that was outpacing our ability to manufacture them," Spannuth said. 

The Unique Pretzels Bakery expansion involves construction of a 37,500-square-foot warehouse and a new 36,000-square-foot manufacturing plant, featuring huge new baking ovens provided by Reading Bakery Systems and state-of-the-art processing.

The expansion will take place at a 4.6-acre site on the north side of Unique Pretzels existing facility near the intersection of East Bellevue Avenue and Plaza Drive in Muhlenberg Township. Dolan Construction Inc., of Reading, is the contractor for the project.

About Unique Pretzel Bakery Inc.
Unique Pretzel Bakery Inc. is a sixth generation family-owned pretzel bakery that was founded in 1896 by Paul E. Spannuth. Makers of the famed Unique Pretzels Splits brand, the company has continued to grow under the leadership of Justin M. and William P. Spannuth. The company produces more than 16 flavors of pretzels that it supplies to distributors and retail stores all along the East Coast.