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Custom Data Solutions, Inc. (CDSI), a supplier of data collection services to the snack and beverage industries, announced that the company has changed its ownership structure. The company was previously owned by Chuck and Diane Schmidt, who founded the Company over 25 years ago. The purchase, arranged by Michael Nudi and Denise Fullerton, allows employees to acquire an 80 percent interest in the company through the formation of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust (ESOP). Nudi and Fullerton have a 20 percent interest in the company and will continue to manage the company on a day-to-day basis.

Custom Data Solutions joins the growing list of companies whose employees are stockholders. ESOPs have been around for many years and are designed to provide employees with the incentive of a "piece of the action" and sharing of the capital growth of the company. Through an ESOP, employees gain a direct and vested interest in the success of their company and share in the profits of their own labor. This creates a strong identity of interest between management and staff and also rewards employees with a long-term retirement benefit.

Custom Data Solutions turned to Menke & Associates, Inc, a San Francisco, Calif.-based firm specializing in Employee Stock Ownership Plans, to help establish the ESOP. Additional help was provided by Robert Goldi, corporate counsel with Detroit based law firm Kotz, Sangster, Wosocki & Berg, and Linda Salas, Vice President, Oxford Bank, Oxford, Mich.

Michael Nudi, president and COO, said in a prepared statement, "The ESOP will allow all of our employees to take an ownership stake in the continued performance of the Company. We will be able to reward the staff for their contribution to our success and their loyalty and dedication. The ESOP will also allow us to continue to attract the high caliber of staff necessary to run a successful business. Our current staff of 40 employees are very excited about participation in this program."

Custom Data Solutions is a supplier of data collection services to the snack food and beverage industry. Through its Strategic Edge suite of data collection and analysis products, Custom Data Solutions provides its clients with meaningful endpoint sales reporting and data trending information. As a result, all clients enjoy a clear competitive advantage. Custom Data Solutions provides its services in the Vending, C-Store and Foodservice channels.