Blount Fine Foods
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | , USA |
Key people | Todd Blount (CEO and President) |
| Products | seafood products, artisan soups, prepared foods |
| Website | www |
Blount Fine Foods, formerly Blount Seafood, is a prepared foods and soup manufacturer that produces wholesale frozen and fresh soups under the Blount brand as well as Panera Bread and Legal Sea Foods.[1][2][3] Blount Fine Foods is headquartered in Fall River, Massachusetts with a production facility in Warren, Rhode Island.[4]
History
Blount Seafood Corporation was founded by F. Nelson Blount, whose family was involved in the shellfish industry since the 1880s. After a 1938 hurricane devastated the oyster business in Narragansett Bay, Blount helped introduce the bay quahog (a hard-shell clam) as a source of protein during the Second World War. In 1946, he entered the food-processing industry and consolidated several smaller shellfish firms to found the company, which provided chopped clams to soup manufacturers throughout the United States, including Campbell Soup.[2][5] The corporation changed its name to Blount Fine Foods, Inc. in 2008.[4] Todd Blount has served as president and CEO since 2000, and is the third generation of the Blount family to lead the company.[1][2][5] In 2004, Blount Fine Foods expanded from its Warren location to include a headquarters facility in Fall River.[2]
In October 2010, the company installed an energy efficient refrigeration system, eco-friendly water filtration system, and solar panels as part of the company’s project to keep the business green.[2]
In 2011, Blount Fine Foods completed an expansion project that added 58,000 square feet to the pre-existing 65,000 square feet Fall River site.[1][3] The company no longer processes seafood and has focused its business model to offer artisan prepared foods and introduced a line of prepared sides and sauces.[1][2][6] In addition, Blount Fine Foods has opened its retail branch, such as Blount Clam Shack and Soup Bar.[7][8] In December 2011, the company received the Refrigerated Foods Processor of the Year award by Refrigerated & Frozen Foods magazine.[9][10]
In 2013, the company launched a line of single-serving soups and macaroni and cheese.[3][5]
In 2016, the company acquired Food Source, LP in McKinney, Texas.
References
- ^ a b c d Sean McFadden (Dec 31, 2010). "Entrepreneurs give their take on '10, look ahead to '11'". Boston Business Journal. Retrieved Oct 31, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f Christina Hickman (Oct 21, 2011). "Good Taste: Blount captures prepared food markets with tasty products". Southcoast Business Bulletin. Retrieved Oct 31, 2013.
- ^ a b c Kimberley Donoghue (Aug 2, 2011). "Blount Fine Foods to expand food service line to Warren". Providence Business News. Retrieved Oct 31, 2013.
- ^ a b "Blount Fine Foods, Inc". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved Oct 31, 2013.
- ^ a b c Linda Murphy (Sep 3, 2013). "Blount Fine Foods launches single-serving soup line". The Herald News. Retrieved Oct 31, 2013.
- ^ "From Sea to Soup". Blount. Retrieved Oct 31, 2013.
- ^ Michael Janusonis (Jun 7, 2012). "Dining Out - Blount's a welcome addition to city scene". Providence Journal. Retrieved Oct 31, 2013.
- ^ Patricia Harris and David Lyon (2013). Food Lovers’ Guide to Rhode Island: The Best Restaurants, Markets & Local Culinary Offerings. Morris Book Publishing, LLC. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-7627-8361-8.
- ^ Bob Garrison (Dec 1, 2011). "2011 Refrigerated Foods Processor of the Year: Company for all seasons". Retrieved Oct 31, 2013.
- ^ "Refrigerated Foods Processors of the Year" (PDF). Refrigerated & Frozen Foods Magazine. Dec 2011. Retrieved Oct 31, 2013.