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Blount Fine Foods

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blount Fine Foods
Company typePrivate
Headquarters,
USA
Key people
Todd Blount (CEO and President)
Productsseafood products, artisan soups, prepared foods
Websitewww.blountfinefoods.com

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

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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

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b c Kimberley Donoghue (Aug 2, 2011). "Blount Fine Foods to expand food service line to Warren". Providence Business News. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved Oct 31, 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Blount Fine Foods, Inc". Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved Oct 31, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c Linda Murphy (Sep 3, 2013). "Blount Fine Foods launches single-serving soup line". The Herald News. Retrieved Oct 31, 2013.
  6. ^ "From Sea to Soup". Blount. Archived from the original on 2013-11-03. Retrieved Oct 31, 2013.
  7. ^ Michael Janusonis (Jun 7, 2012). "Dining Out - Blount's a welcome addition to city scene". Providence Journal. Retrieved Oct 31, 2013.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Bob Garrison (Dec 1, 2011). "2011 Refrigerated Foods Processor of the Year: Company for all seasons". Retrieved Oct 31, 2013.
  10. ^ "Refrigerated Foods Processors of the Year" (PDF). Refrigerated & Frozen Foods Magazine. Dec 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 4, 2013. Retrieved Oct 31, 2013.
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