Blount Fine Foods has expanded with a new acquisition, adding McKinney, TX-based food manufacturer, Food Source, LP to increase capacity and decrease shipping times for the soup manufacturer. Todd Blount, the company’s President, spoke with me about why Blount chose the company, and what benefits it hopes to add in the future.
“We set out in search of a location that would allow us to greatly improve logistics and cut shipping time across the country,” Todd told me when I asked him why Blount selected Food Source for an acquisition. “When we looked at the facility in McKinney, Texas, it was immediately clear that we had found a company with a like-minded culture, operating to strict food safety standards out of modern and efficient production facilities. The extra bonus was that there was also room to expand capacity at that facility by two-thirds at any point in the future.”
Food Source is a provider of private label and branded ethnic and home-style entrees, sides, and sauces for both retail and foodservice. With the acquisition of the company, Blount also gained a more than 90,000-square-feet of modern production facilities, with the ability to expand to 150,000-square-feet.
“In addition to the capacity allowing us to simply make more soup, the added capacity will afford us the flexibility to make smaller runs of specialty products,” Todd said. “That might mean a retail or restaurant chain may be able to offer limited run seasonal flavors, or offer a popular soup in both “traditional” and “vegetarian” or “gluten-free” options. A location in the middle of the country also shortens shipping times, which means quicker order fulfillment and longer shelf-life for products.”
According to a press release, Blount has plans for both process and training upgrades, ensuring compliance with the plant’s many certifications, which include SQF, Halal, Organic, and Gluten-Free, among others.
When I asked Todd what was else was next for Blount in 2016, he hinted more acquisitions may be on the horizon.
“Rounding out our national network is a priority for us, which requires us to have truly local reach everywhere we do business,” he added. “Accomplishing that goal will involve our making some news on the West Coast that allows us to serve our growing business in that important part of the country.”
For information more about Blount Fine Foods, visit the company’s website here.
