Taco Comfort Solutions’ new ownership has assured Mayor Kenneth J. Hopkins that the longtime manufacturer will maintain a significant presence in Cranston, with a commitment to supporting its employees, operations and future growth.
Hopkins recently met with Pentair President and Chief Executive Officer John L. Stauch, outgoing Taco Executive Chairman John Hazen White Jr. and members of the company’s new management team. Governor Dan McKee and Stefan Pryor also participated in the meeting.
The discussion followed Pentair’s October 1 completion of its $1.4 billion acquisition of Taco Group Holdings and focused on the company’s future in Cranston, its workforce and opportunities for continued investment and expansion.
“Taco is more than a major Cranston employer. It is part of the fabric of our city and has been an important part of Rhode Island’s manufacturing history for generations,” Hopkins said. “I was very encouraged by my conversation with John Stauch, John Hazen White, Jr. and the leadership team about their commitment to Cranston and, importantly, their vision for continued growth here. I was assured that the next chapter of Taco’s history will continue to be written right here in Cranston.”
When the sale was announced in July, RINewsToday reported that Pentair’s promise to maintain a “significant presence” in Cranston did not specify a minimum local workforce or guarantee that all existing operations would remain. The transaction also marked the end of four generations of White family ownership.
The new meeting announcement places greater emphasis on Cranston’s role in Taco’s future, with company leaders expressing support for its operations, employees and opportunities for growth within the city.
“We appreciated the opportunity to meet with Mayor Hopkins and discuss our vision for Taco and its future in Cranston,” Stauch said. “Taco’s talented workforce, strong brand and deep roots in this community are important strengths as we bring our organizations together. We see significant opportunities ahead to invest in innovation, serve our customers and grow the business, and we look forward to building on Taco’s longstanding presence in Cranston.”
Founded in 1920, Taco has grown from a family-owned Rhode Island manufacturer into an internationally recognized provider of hydronic and water-based solutions while maintaining its headquarters and deep roots in Cranston. According to the mayor’s announcement, the company employs approximately 700 people in the city.
Taco’s products include pumps, valves, tanks, heat exchangers and controls used in heating, cooling, plumbing and other water-management systems. Its markets extend from homes and apartment buildings to hospitals, schools, industrial facilities and data centers.
The company has also distinguished itself through investments in workforce development and employee education. Taco established its Learning Center in the early 1990s, a commitment that ultimately led to a $20 million investment in its Cranston Innovation & Development Center. The facility provides classrooms, laboratories and training space for employees and industry professionals.
“Cranston has been Taco’s home for generations, and our people and our community have always been central to who we are,” White said. “Joining Pentair gives Taco additional resources and further global reach while allowing us to build upon the values, innovation and commitment to our employees that have defined this company for more than a century. I appreciate Mayor Hopkins’ continued support of Taco and his commitment to helping us grow here in Cranston.”
Pentair reported approximately $4.2 billion in revenue in 2025 and has about 9,000 employees serving customers in more than 150 countries. Taco is now part of Pentair’s Water Solutions reporting segment and will continue to operate under the Taco brand.
The combination provides Taco with the scale and resources of a global organization to pursue additional markets, technologies and opportunities for growth.
As RINewsToday previously reported, Pentair also projected approximately $30 million in annualized savings from purchasing power, sourcing and operational efficiencies. Those plans did not establish that layoffs were intended, but left questions about how the savings would be achieved. The White family’s extensive civic and philanthropic involvement added another dimension to the ownership change.
The latest announcement expresses support for employees and future investment, although it does not establish a minimum Cranston employment level or identify specific expansion projects, investment amounts or a timetable.
Hopkins emphasized that Cranston would work with the company as it develops its plans. He highlighted public safety, recreational facilities, shopping, restaurants and overall quality of life, while assuring company leaders that his administration would remain accessible and responsive.
“My message was simple: Cranston wants Taco here, we value the hundreds of people who work here, and City Hall will be a partner in helping this company grow,” Hopkins said. “Whether it is navigating a municipal process, addressing an infrastructure need or solving an unexpected problem, my door and the doors of my administration are open. When one of our largest employers wants to invest and create opportunities in Cranston, we want to help make that happen.”
Hopkins said the meeting reinforced his confidence that the acquisition offers an opportunity to preserve Taco’s historic presence while positioning the company and its local workforce for another generation of growth.
“This is a company with more than a century of history behind it and tremendous opportunity ahead of it,” he said. “We are proud that Taco calls Cranston home, and we intend to do everything we can to keep it that way.”
Read our earlier coverage: Taco to Be Sold for $1.4B to London-headquartered Pentair; “Significant Presence” in Cranston promised.
The post Following $1.4 billion sale, Taco assures Mayor Hopkins of continued presence and investment in Cranston appeared first on RINewsToday.
