| Name | Title | Contact Details |
|---|---|---|
Kristie Adams |
Chief Technology Officer | Profile |
What grows here changes everything.
In 1960, a small meat processing operation named Quaker Maid Meats was founded. Since then, this family-owned company has grown to over 100 workers in three production plants. Originally, wafer-thin-sliced beef filets (muscle steaks) were the company’s mainstay. Soon Quaker Maid added breaded veal and beef patties, primarily for the institutional and restaurant markets and began manufacturing a variety of other portion-controlled meat products. In 1968, the company acquired a parcel of land on Carroll Street in Reading, PA, where its main plant is still located. Growth continued with ""Buttered Beef Steaks"" and ""Cubed Beef Steaks,"" along with a solid muscle sandwich steak, hamburger patties and veal steaks. In the early 1970’s, rising beef prices created the need to develop a chopped and formed sandwich steak. This product became the company's largest mainstay growth item and allowed it to compete directly with national brand, Steak-umm®. Because of the sandwich steak's success, the first expansion of the Carroll Street plant also took place during this time. In late 1979, Quaker Maid formulated its version of the fully cooked Italian style meatball (later named Mama Lucia Italian Style Meatballs), adding another item to help customers fill out their orders. The company also designed a continuous meatball-forming, freezing operation that revolutionized the manufacturing process. The meatballs helped expand Quaker Maid’s market share on the Eastern seaboard and into the Chicago market. In 1985, the company purchased another production facility to accommodate the meatball growth. Within two years, additional production capacity was required to support the entire product line. In 1987 the company purchased additional land in Reading in preparation for a new facility. In 1990 ground was broken for a new 4,000-square-foot office building, additional 15,000 square feet of processing area, and 10,000 square feet of freezer and tempering room. In 2005 a third plant was built to again increase capacity, bringing Quaker Maid's total production facility size to over 110,000 square feet. Quaker Maid's product line is continuously updated and currently includes all-beef sandwich steaks and fully cooked meatballs that are quick and easy to prepare, nutritious, and packaged under a variety of brand labels. Distribution spans all the major supermarkets and many large food service establishments throughout the United States and Bermuda. Quaker Maid continually implements the newest technologies available to produce the highest quality products and enhance the plants’ safety and sanitary environment. Our quality assurance department has been certified by the United States Department of Agriculture to participate in their TQC (Total Quality Control) program. Although we are constantly monitored by the USDA, this certification shifts the major responsibility from federal meat inspectors to our own quality assurance staff. Today, Quaker Maid Meats, Inc. remains a family-operated business with an unswerving dedication to quality, value and service. Our goal remains simple: to provide superior portion-controlled frozen meat products, manufactured with the best natural ingredients available, delivered to our customers at a fair and reasonable price.
The Lifeway Foods story begins in 1986 with kefir, a milk-based cultured drink that is popular in Eastern Europe and is said to be more nutritional than yogurt. That year, Russian immigrant Michael Smolyansky began manufacturing kefir in his basement to bring the taste of his native country to the U.S. After Michael Smolyansky passed away in 2002, his daughter Julie Smolyansky assumed the role of President, while his son Edward Smolyansky assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Today, Lifeway is the country`s leading manufacturer of kefir, with multiple flavors and varieties that include lowfat, whole milk and organic versions as well as a children`s line, and a provider of other probiotic natural and organic dairy products for health-conscious consumers.
EFCO Products, Inc. is a global leader in creating and distributing innovative savory sauces, bakery fillings, bakery mixes, bakery concentrates, beverage bases and syrups, sauces and spreads, fruit toppings and specialty toppings that have made us the “go to” company for Corporate Chefs, Bakery Professionals, Marketing Leaders and Supply Chain Buyers. Founded in 1903, EFCO Products prides itself in providing premium off-the-shelf and custom prepared products with the finest ingredients. We are a family-owned company that treats each of our employees and customers like family. EFCO`s sweet and savory products are enjoyed by millions daily. As we continue to expand our product line, we will always remain true to our core values of quality, an unrelenting standard for excellence and exceeding customers` expectations.
Bizerba is a leading solution provider for weighing, slicing and weigh-price-labeling technologies.