The path for Red Gold to becoming the world’s #1 family-owned and operated tomato company is worth knowing as a foodservice operator.
Why? Because much like independent restaurant operators, the Reichart family’s only shareholders they answer to are their customers.
Rooted In Serving The Nation
When the United States went to war in 1941, there was a desperate need for more shelf stable foods to feed American troops around the world. That’s when Grover Hutcherson and his daughter, Fran, bought an abandoned cannery to meet the need.
Fran encouraged local farm families to grow tomatoes to boost the local economy and assure the freshest tomatoes for her canning operation. Because the Indiana soil is some of the best in the land for growing tomatoes her quality was assured.
Fran married Ernie Reichart and purchased the company from her father in 1948 and expansion began to feed post-war America with products sold to grocery stores and restaurants.
Changing the name from Orestes Canning to Red Gold in 1970, the next generation of Reicharts charted a path of significant modernization and distributor relationships to expand its customer base nationwide.
Over the next four decades, other independent canners were acquired by large corporations, shifting their focus away from tomatoes. The Reicharts, however, remained steadfast in their mission: to produce the freshest, best-tasting tomato products in the world.
Today, Brian Reichart is President and CEO of the 1,600-employee company, while his wife Selita is Senior Vice President. Their oldest son, Beau, is Chief Operations Officer and younger son Colt Reichart is Senior Director of Marketing and Consumer Relations.
Committed To All-American Clean-Label Quality
“When you purchase any of these brands—Red Gold®, Redpack®, Tuttorosso®, Migliore®, Teresa® , Vine Ripe and Sacramento®—you are choosing a product that is proudly American-owned, grown, and made,” says Colt Reichart.
“Each of the brands receive the same level of attention to quality for our foodservice operators. We’re proud of our association with American family farmers and our role as an American company.”
Red Gold’s Folds of Honor brand is another example of commitment that is reflective of its roots. “We wanted to support families of fallen military and first responder heroes,” says Colt.
“With every case we sell to operators a portion of the proceeds goes to provide educational scholarships to those families.” To learn more about the Folds of Honor product line or to request a free sample visit: RedGoldFoodservice/FOH.
“Red Gold was a leader in the introduction of non-BPA/BPS cans for its products back in 2015,” Reichart explains.
“Our products have a clean label. Our innovation also includes our Better Nutrition Made Simple line of products with lower sodium and made with real sugar. Today, the line is the go-to product for feeding American school children and quickly being adopted by foodservice operators as well.”
Coming Through For Restaurants During COVID
“When COVID hit, a Red Gold competitor abandoned independent operators to protect its biggest chain customers in portion-control ketchup packets. Filling the void, Red Gold packet lines ran 24/7 for 39 consecutive weeks to assure the supply as restaurants survived through takeout and delivery service to customers.
“Our employees gave up their time off with families to make sure we took care of our independent operators,” says Colt.
Confident In American Quality
While the U.S. is now a net importer of fruits and vegetables, Red Gold is confident that its quality, commitment to farm families, and to restaurant operators is a winning trifecta, keeping tomato imports at bay. “We’re so confident that when you taste our products, we’ll win together,” concludes Colt. “That’s why we offer free samples to any foodservice professional.”
To learn more about Red Gold Foodservice and to request your free sample go to Red Gold Foodservice;s website.
