Rich Products Corporation (also known as Rich's) is a privately held multinational food products corporation headquartered in
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from Sou ...
. The company was founded in 1945 by
Robert E. Rich, Sr. after his development of a non-dairy whipped topping based on
soybean oil
Soybean oil (British English: soyabean oil) is a vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of the soybean (''Glycine max''). It is one of the most widely consumed cooking oils and the second most consumed vegetable oil. As a drying oil, processe ...
.
Since then, the company has expanded its non-dairy frozen food offerings and also supplies products to retailers, bakeries, and foodservice providers.
Rich's employs 11,000 employees worldwide, with manufacturing facilities in many countries. The company sells more than 2,000 products in 112 countries. It currently ranks number 116 on ''
Forbes
''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also r ...
'' list o
America's Largest Private Companies
In addition to Farm Rich, the company sells products under other brands it has acquired, such as SeaPak; French Meadow, Casa Di Bertacchi; Byron's Barbecue; Carvel, f'real and Jon Donaire. CoffeeRich is one of the company's few exceptions with nearly all of its products not being sold under the Rich brand name.
Company history
1940s
Rich's began in 1945, when Robert E. Rich, Sr. created a cream less expensive than dairy-based whipped cream and lasted longer in the refrigerator, and could reportedly "remain frozen for more than a year without degrading."
1950s
In 1954, the company introduced the first commercial line of frozen éclairs and crème puffs.
1960s
Rich's expanded further, introducing CoffeeRich, a non-dairy frozen creamer in 1961.
[ 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 products to include frozen baked goods.]
1970s
Rich's acquired nine new production facilities, as well a
SeaPak
a St. Simons, Georgia based company that produces frozen seafood specialties. In 1973, they bought the rights to rename the Buffalo Bills stadium to Rich Stadium for 25 years (a total cost of $1.5 million).[
]
1980s
In 1980, Rich's introduced Freeze-Flo, a process allowing foods to remain soft while frozen. It also introduced another product, On Top, a non-dairy dessert topping, in 1986. 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.[
]
1990s
During the 1990s, Rich's expanded internationally, opening facilities in Mexico, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Australia, among others.
In 1997 the company was described as a "20-plant, $1 billion global food-processing corporation."
2000s
Since 2000, Rich's has acquired a number of companies, including frozen dessert and bakery mix producer JW Allen & Co., Jon Donaire Desserts, and donut producer Rolling Pin Manufacturing. Rich's integration of French Meadow Bakery and acquisition of World Catch LLC (all-natural seafood) and GLP Manufacturing (gluten-free baked goods) entered the company into the health and wellness food sector.[
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.
With over 2,000 products sold in "more than 85 countries,"][ 2005 sales worldwide was $2.5 billion.
]
2010s
On August 23, 2013, Rich's celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Fort Erie, Ontario plant.
On June 24, 2014, Rich's unveiled its new Innovation Center and Atrium @ Rich's. On 1 January, 2020, Richard Ferranti became the new CEO of Rich's.
in January 2020, Rich's announced the acquisition of two manufacturing plants from TreeHouse Foods, followed by two other acquisitions in February; Rizzuto Foods, which manufactures pizza products, and Morey's Seafood International, a Minnesota-based seafood processing and distribution company.
In July 2021, Rich Products announced the acquisition of Signature Breads.
Product portfolio
Rich's offers a variety of products, including toppings and icings; sweet goods; finished desserts; appetizers; bread and rolls; pizza products; Italian specialties; barbecue; and shrimp and seafood.
In addition to the Rich's brand (Farm Rich), the company mostly[ sells products under other brands it has acquired, such as SeaPak; French Meadow, Casa Di Bertacchi; Byron's Barbecue; Carvel, f'real and Jon Donaire. CoffeeRich] is one of the company's few exceptions; nearly all of its products are "sold not under the Rich brand name."
Legal battles
Dairy manufacturers filed multiple lawsuits against Rich's. Some of the company's early-day advertising used the term "coffee whitener" rather than non-dairy to avoid pushback from dairy manufacturers.
Rich Products was sued in 36 states according to the founder's older son Robert E. Rich Jr. Eventually, his father's "court victories played an important role in legitimizing nondairy products."[
]
Sports
In 1972, Rich Products signed a 25-year deal for the naming rights
Naming rights are a financial transaction and form of advertising or memorialization whereby a corporation, person, or other entity purchases the right to name a facility, object, location, program, or event, typically for a defined period of ...
to the Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division ...
' new stadium
A stadium ( : stadiums or stadia) is a place or venue for (mostly) outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a tiered structure designed to allow spectators to stand o ...
, which was under construction in Orchard Park. The Robert E. Rich family reportedly at one point suggested calling the stadium Coffee Rich Park.[Most of the Rich Products Corporation's offerings are not crowned with the Rich company/family name. Coffee Rich, introduced in 1961, (at which point Pennsylvania claimed violation of state dairy labeling laws, section 235) was then/is perhaps the best known and longest existing one. See "History of Soy Ice Cream and Other Non-Dairy Frozen Desserts" , by William Shurtleff & Akiko Aoyagi (2013), p. 296]
From 1973 to 1998
1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''.
Events January
* January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently s ...
this stadium was known as Rich Stadium
Highmark Stadium is a stadium in Orchard Park, New York, in the Southtowns of the Buffalo metropolitan area. The stadium opened in 1973 as Rich Stadium and is the home venue of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). It was kno ...
. When the original deal expired in 1998 and Rich chose not to renew at a much higher rate, the stadium was renamed in honor of Ralph C. Wilson, the Bills' owner and founder (as of 2021, the stadium is now called Highmark Stadium).
Rich's owns three minor league baseball teams, most notably the Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen F ...
, Triple-A International League
The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ( ...
affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...
. The other two teams are the Northwest Arkansas Naturals
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are a Minor League Baseball team based in Springdale, Arkansas. The team is a member of the Texas League, and serves as the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at Arvest Ballpark, whi ...
(Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...
), and the West Virginia Black Bears
The West Virginia Black Bears are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. They are located in Granville, West Virginia, and play their home games at Monongalia County Ballpark, which is across the Monongahela River from Morgan ...
(formerly the Jamestown Jammers
The Jamestown Jammers were a minor league baseball team based in Jamestown, New York from 1994 until 2014. The team was the Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates and played in the New York–Penn League. The team play ...
, the Single-A Short Season affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
).
On November 4, 2010, Bob Rich announced that Rich Products would be the official kit sponsor of English Northern League Division One team Bedlington Terriers F.C.
Bedlington Terriers Football Club is a football club based in Bedlington, England. The club are currently members of the and play at Welfare Park.
History
The club was established in 1949 as Bedlington Mechanics. They joined the Northumberlan ...
In 2013, Rich's Farm Rich brand became a sponsor for Front Row Motorsports' David Ragan in the NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. The privately owned company was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948, and ...
Sprint Cup Series
The NASCAR Cup Series is the top racing series of the NASCAR, National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). The series began in 1949 as the Strictly Stock Division, and from 1950 to 1970 it was known as the Grand National Division. ...
. Farm Rich also served as Ragan's sponsor at Richmond International Raceway
Richmond Raceway (RR) is a , ''D''-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in unincorporated Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Known as ...
in the 2013 Federated Auto Parts 400
The 2013 Federated Auto Parts 400 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on September 7, 2013, at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Contested over 400 laps, it was the twenty-sixth and final race l ...
. FarmRich came back on in 2014 to sponsor Ragan again for three races at Phoenix, Daytona, and Atlanta.
References
{{reflist, 2
Food and drink companies of the United States
Food manufacturers of the United States
Manufacturing companies based in Buffalo, New York
American companies established in 1945
Food and drink companies established in 1945
Privately held companies based in New York (state)