Berk products gain national attention

HOWLAND — Plastic knives and forks seem pretty ordinary, but they were the center of attention today at the Avalon Inn.

Salesmen from 20 states came to hear the latest news on plastic cutlery from Berk Paper & Supply in Niles, whose products are becoming increasingly popular nationwide.

About 30 manufacturer’s representatives from 17 companies attended the local company’s one-day national sales convention.

“It’s been outstanding,” said Andrew Tierno, who represents Berk’s products in New England. “We started with zero and in four years we’re doing several million dollars a year.”

Tom Melchiorre, who brokers products in four East Coast states, is just as excited about the local company. In four years, his sales of Berk products have climbed to $2.5 million a year.

Rob Berk, owner of the local company, declined to give sales figures but said revenue has been increasing at between 20 percent and 30 percent a year.

For more on this story, see The Vindicator or Vindy.com on Friday.