Reser's Fine Foods Explained

Reser's Fine Foods, Inc.
Type:Private
Foundation:1950
Location:Beaverton, Oregon
Key People:Al Reser, former president and CEO. Mark Reser, current president and CEO.
Num Employees:Approx. 4,000 (2020)[1]
Revenue:$1.2 billion (2017)[2]
Products:Prepared foods
Industry:Food processing

Reser's Fine Foods, Inc., an American corporation based in Beaverton, Oregon, manufactures and distributes fresh and refrigerated prepared foods. Over 1,000 products are available in the 50 U.S. states, Canada, Guam, Mexico, and areas of the Far East. Its prepared foods are sold in national grocery chains, independent outlets, and convenience stores. Oregon State University's football stadium, Reser Stadium, is named after the company, which is one of its sponsors. Reser’s is also a primary sponsor of Martin Truex Jr. and the #19 Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Cup Series. The company recalled 19 salad products distributed in 29 states in 2016 for possible listeria contamination.[3] Reser's consistently ranks in the top ten privately held Oregon companies by annual revenue.[4]

History

Reser's grew from the potato salad business started by Mildred and Earl Reser in their kitchen in 1950, based in Cornelius, Oregon. Initially selling potato salad to local butcher shops and mom-and-pop stores, the Resers landed a contract to supply Safeway stores in Oregon in 1951.[5]

Shortly after incorporating on May 14, 1959, Reser's moved from Cornelius to a 33000ft2 facility in Beaverton, Oregon. Rapid growth over the next 30 years brought Reser's to its present-day operations at 12 plants with over 2800 employees. In 2011, the company purchased Oklahoma-based competitor Vaughan Foods for $18.3 million,[6] and the assets of Orval Kent for $69.2 million.[7]

In 2010, annual revenue was approximately $700 million, ranking Reser's as the sixth-largest private company in Oregon by revenue.

As of 2014, the company had almost 4,800 employees and was operating 16 facilities, in the United States and Mexico.[8] In July 2014, it announced plans to build a 310000ft2 facility in Hillsboro, Oregon, but indicated that its headquarters would remain at the site in Beaverton. In July 2015, the new Hillsboro plant, located on Century Blvd., was about three-fourths completed and was projected to begin being used for production in October 2015.[9]

By 2017, annual revenue had grown to $1.2 billion, ranking Reser's fifth highest annual revenue for private companies. This ranked Reser's highest in revenue for a non-public Oregon food producer, ranking one spot higher than Tillamook County Creamery Association.

Relationship with Oregon State University

In addition to the sponsorship naming rights of Reser Stadium, the company helped fund other projects on campus such as the Linus Pauling Science Center.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About Us - Reser's Fine Foods . 7 May 2020 . September 20, 2020.
  2. News: Sawyer. Brandon. List Leaders: Unveiling Oregon's 10 largest privately held companies of 2018. September 20, 2020. Portland Business Journal. July 9, 2018.
  3. Web site: Loew . Tracy . Reser's recalls potato, macaroni salad over Listeria fears . 2024-05-23 . Statesman Journal . en-US.
  4. News: Stevens. Suzanne. List: Oregon's top private companies. July 30, 2011. Portland Business Journal. July 29, 2011.
  5. News: Duin . Steve . Al Reser dies at 74 . 29 August 2023 . Oregonian/Oregon Live . 14 April 2010 . en.
  6. News: Young. Molly. Reser's Fine Foods completes acquisition of competitor Vaughan Foods. September 17, 2011. The Oregonian. September 16, 2011.
  7. News: Young. Molly. Reser's Fine Foods buys rival Orval Kent in deal approved today. November 15, 2011. The Oregonian. November 15, 2011.
  8. News: Hogue. Kendra. Reser's outgrows Beaverton home – Explosive growth, demand spurs firm to build new Hillsboro facility. July 11, 2014. Beaverton Valley Times. July 10, 2014. A2.
  9. News: Siemers. Erik. Faces of The List: New Reser's plant adds capacity, possibilities. Portland Business Journal. July 31, 2015. subscription . March 5, 2018.
  10. Web site: Friend to OSU Al Reser passes away after lifetime of service, leadership . September 20, 2020.