2011 was a great year for M. A. Silva USA. The company achieved record sales, expanded cork production capabilities and added several new team members to serve the growing business.

M. A. Silva USA’s national sales team welcomed Alison Zito Gossage, Audrey Pinto and Katherine Turner. The company bolstered the glass operations with the hiring of Terry Borges as account manager. Borges’ depth of knowledge covers more than 35 years in the wine industry. Pamela Stevens was appointed quality assurance and laboratory manager. Stevens adds to a hallmark of M. A. Silva – individuals dedicated to meeting the quality assurance needs of demanding winemakers. She worked for several premium wineries including Robert Mondavi Winery.

"I'm very proud of my team," said M. A. Silva USA President Neil Foster. "It is satisfying to see the company that I started in my basement 10 years ago become a success. I didn’t do it alone. Together, with the help of employees dedicated to the vision of excellent customer service and exceptional cork quality, we made it happen."

As glass sales more than doubled in 2011, M. A. Silva USA is also expanding glass operations with additional wine bottle warehouse space in Napa, California. Building on a successful relationship with Sonoma County Vintners Co-Op, M. A. Silva USA is expanding its collaboration to offer glass shipments from the Co-Op's new Napa warehouse. "We are pleased to be in this new venture. They are a solid partner who helps us provide our clients with on-time delivery and great customer service," said Foster.

In Portugal, the source for all of M. A. Silva USA’s corks, M. A. Silva Corticas, Lda installed additional equipment that doubles raw cork-bark processing capacity. In Santa Rosa, new cork finishing equipment increases production capacity by 25 percent. “Our increased capacity serves us in two ways,” says Foster. “We can maintain competitive pricing at a time when our customers are looking to save on packaging costs; and we can meet our projected growth for the next two vintages.”

About M. A. Silva USA:
Based in Sonoma County California, M. A. Silva USA is a leading manufacturer of premium natural corks and of glass containers for North American markets. Its quality assurance program ensures unmatched visual, mechanical and sensory characteristics of its products. M. A. Silva USA operates on 100% solar power and is committed to sustainability and eco-friendly operations. For more information about M. A. Silva USA visit www.MASilva.com or call 877-689-7676.