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Rich Products Corporation (also known as Rich's) is a privately held, multinational food products corporation headquartered in Buffalo, New York. The company was founded in 1945 by Robert E. Rich, Sr. , after his development of a non-dairy whipped topping based on soybean oil. Since then, the company has expanded its non-dairy frozen food offerings, and also supplies products to retailers, in-store bakeries, and foodservice providers.^[1]

Rich’s employs 9,000 associates worldwide, with manufacturing facilities in Brazil,^[2] Canada,^[3] China,^[4] Mexico,^[5] South Africa,^[6] Thailand,^[4] the United Kingdom^[7] and the United States.^[8] The company sells more than 2,000 products in 112 countries.^[1]

Rich's currently ranks number 161 on Forbes list of America's Largest Private Companies which is up two spots over the previous year's ranking of 163.^[9]

Company history

1940s

Rich’s began in 1945, when Robert E. Rich, Sr., sought a replacement for dairy-based whip cream due to milk shortages during World War II. Through the use of soybeans, Rich created a cream that was less expensive than dairy-based whipped cream, yet lasted longer in the refrigerator and could “remain frozen for more than a year without degrading.”^[10]

1950s

In 1954, the company introduced the first commercial line of frozen éclairs and crème puffs, which are still produced today.^[11]

1960s

During the 1960s, Rich‘s expanded further, introducing CoffeeRich, a non-dairy frozen creamer in 1961.^[11] The company also constructed a manufacturing plant in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada the following year. This facility is now known as Rich Products of Canada, Ltd. The acquisition of Elm Tree Baking Co., in 1969, expanded Rich’s offerings to include frozen baked goods.^[12]

1970s

The 1970s were also a decade of growth for Rich’s, with the acquisition of nine new production facilities as well as SeaPak, a company based in St. Simons, Georgia, that produces frozen seafood specialties.^[12]

1980s

In 1980, Rich’s introduced Freeze-Flo, a process that allows foods to remain soft while frozen. The company introduced another product, On Top, a non-dairy dessert topping, in 1986, which was notable for its packaging – a pastry bag with its own tip. Rich’s also expanded its product line through the acquisition of Casa Di Bertacchi, a specialty meat and frozen pasta producer, in 1982, and Byron’s, a barbecue and meat producer, in 1986.^[12]

1990s

During the 1990s, Rich’s expanded internationally, opening facilities in Mexico, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Australia, among others.^[13]

2000s

Since 2000, Rich’s has acquired a number of companies to diversify its offerings. These include frozen dessert and bakery mix producer JW Allen & Co.,^[14] Jon Donaire Desserts,^[15] and donut producer Rolling Pin Manufacturing.^[16] Rich’s integration of French Meadow Bakery and acquisition of World Catch LLC (all-natural seafood)^[17] and GLP Manufacturing (gluten-free baked goods)^[18] entered the company into the health and wellness food sector.^[12]

In 2005, the company celebrated 60 years as a family-owned company with the “60 Delicious Years” worldwide birthday party on March 14. As part of the celebration, Rich’s renovated lunch and break rooms at all of its manufacturing sites and launched an employee recognition program.^[19]

Product Portfolio

Rich’s offers a diverse body of products, including: Toppings & Icings; Sweet Goods; Finished Desserts; Appetizers; Bread & Rolls; Pizza Products; Italian Specialties; Bar-B-Q; and Shrimp and Seafood.^[1]

In addition to the Rich’s brand, the company sells products under a number of other brands it has acquired, such as: Mother’s Kitchen; Allen; Rolling Pin Donuts; World Catch; Battistoni; SeaPak; Farm Rich; Casa Di Bertacchi; Byron’s Barbecue; Tiki Bay Beverages; and Jon Donaire.^[20]

Consumer Relations

Campaign to Overthrow Labeling of Genetically Engineered Ingredients in California

Throughout 2012, Rich Products contributed $225,537 to a $46 million dollar political campaign known as "The Coalition Against The Costly Food Labeling Proposition, sponsored by Farmers and Food Producers" ^[21] This organization was set up to oppose a citizen's initiative, known as Proposition 37, demanding mandatory labeling of foods containing genetically modified ingredients. As a result, there is a growing boycott of their products across North America.^[22]

Sports

In 1972, Rich Products signed a 25-year deal which gave it naming rights to the Buffalo Bills brand new stadium. From 1973 to 1998 this stadium was known as Rich Stadium. This is one of the earliest examples of the sale of naming rights in North American sports. However, after the original deal expired in 1998 (Rich chose not to renew at a much higher rate), the stadium was renamed in honor of Bills founder and owner Ralph C. Wilson.

Rich's also owns three minor league baseball teams, most notably the Buffalo Bisons, Triple-A International League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.^[23] The other two teams are the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals), and the Jamestown Jammers (Single-A Short Season affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates).^[24]^[25]

On November 4, 2010, Bob Rich announced that Rich Products shall be the official kit sponsor of the English Northern League Division One team Bedlington Terriers F.C.^[26]

References

External links

[Business-1] richs.com Business Page

[2] richs.com South American Region Page

[3] richs.com Canadian Region Page

[Asian-4] richs.com Asian Region Page

[5] richs.com Central American Region Page

[6] richs.com African Region Page

[7] richs.com European Region Page

[8] richs.com United States Region Page

[9] #161 on Forbes list of largest Private Companies

[10] New York Times article 2006

[SIFE-11] SIFE Company Profile

[History-12] richs.com History Page

[13] Nations Restaurant News

[14] Buffalo Business First

[15] Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery

[16] Baking Management Magazine

[17] Focus Investment Banking

[18] Niagara Frontier Publications

[19] Frozen Food Digest

[20] richs.com Product page

[21] ttp://www.kcet.org/news/ballotbrief/elections2012/propositions/prop-37-funding-genetically-engineered-food.html

[22] ttp://anh-europe.org/news/anh-calls-for-international-boycott-of-prop-37-no-campaign-companies

[23] ttp://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120918&content_id=38603918&vkey=pr_tor&c_id=tor&partnerId=aw-4764878935764618869-1046

[24] ttp://www.milb.com/team4/page.jsp?ymd=20070301&content_id=184959&vkey=team4_t489&fext=.jsp&sid=t489

[25] ttp://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120918&content_id=38607832&vkey=pr_pit&c_id=pit

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 * [http://www.worldcatch.com/ WorldCatch LLC]
 * [http://www.farmrich.com/ Farm Rich]
-* [http://www.tikibaybeverages.com/ Tiki Bay Beverage Co.]
 * [http://www.hoovers.com/free/co/factsheet.xhtml?&ID=40393&abforward=true Rich's Hoover's Profile]