Fieldbrook Farms
 | |
| Fieldbrook Farms | |
| Private corporation | |
| Industry | Food |
| Founded | 1914 |
| Founder | William J. Wells |
| Headquarters |
1 Ice Cream Drive Dunkirk, NY 14048 United States |
Key people | Kenneth A. Johnson (President, CEO) |
| Products | Ice cream, frozen desserts |
| Services | Private label |
| Parent | Arbor Investments |
| Website |
fieldbrookfoods |
Fieldbrook Farms is the trade name of Fieldbrook Foods Corporation, a $100 million manufacturer of private label ice cream and frozen desserts based out of Dunkirk, New York.
It is the largest private label supplier in the east.[1] The company produces more than 1,500 varieties of packaged frozen desserts, ice cream and novelties. These products include, ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet & sorbet, sandwiches, IC/Fudge Bars, Ice Pops, juice & fruit bars, cones, cups and sorbet bars.
History
Dunkirk Ice Cream
The company was founded by William J. Wells in 1914 under the name Dunkirk Ice Cream. It was family-owned and operated for four generations until 1996.[2] Dunkirk Ice Cream agreed to produced again for Tops Markets starting in January 1996 the My Favorite ice cream line which consists of 21 flavors.[3]
Fieldbrook Farms
A James Greco led investment group purchased Dunkirk Ice Cream asset and renamed the company Fieldbrook Farms Inc. in mid-1996.[2][4] A fourth generation Wells family member, William Wells, continued on as company president.[2] In December 1997, Fieldbrook Farms acquired the assets of Portland, Maine based Deering Ice Cream, which was founded in 1886, bringing with it the Howard Johnson brand ice cream rights.[2] On May 3, 1999, Fieldbrook Farms acquired Parmalat, USA's business with its private label clients while taking over Parmlat's Kinnett Dairy which was founded in 1908.[4]
Fieldbrook in July 2000 agreed with Fan Brands, Major League Baseball's marketing agency, for team themed products. The company also agreed to produced two private label ice cream lines, the premium line Absolutely Divine and regular Gold Emblem for [CVS Health]] in November 2000.[5]
In October 2000, Fieldbrook announced a new bowl topping product line in October for which the company received a half a million dollar grant from Empire State Development Corp., New York's state development agency. The topping line production was expected to start in 2001.[5]
A market slump causing the company to close its Georgia plant and miss a loan payment to GE Capital. That plus increasing milk cost caused, in September 2001, Fieldbrook Farms Inc. filed for bankruptcy chapter 11. The company operated during bankruptcy was allowed to auction itself off. Spruce Bank Enterprises, LLC, a private investment fund and food giant Suiza Foods Corp. bid for the company with Spruce Bank having the winning bid. Ken Johnson was named president and chief operating officer of the company by Spruce Bank. In March 2002, the company was renamed Fieldbrook Foods Corporation while continuing to operate as Fieldbrook Farms.[1] In December 2010, Fiedlbrook Foods agreed to be acquired by Arbor Investments.[6]
References
- 1 2 "New name, new owners for Fieldbrook Farms". Ice Cream Reporter. March 20, 2002. Retrieved August 26, 2016 – via The Free Library.
- 1 2 3 4 Hartley, Tom (2000-06-02). "Private label producer finds favor in the freezer". Business First of Buffalo.
- ↑ Redman, Russell (January 29, 1996). "Tops Brings Back My Favorite Ice Cream". Super Market News. Penton Media Food Group. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
- 1 2 "Fieldbrook Farms moves south". Ice Cream Reporter. May 20, 1999. Retrieved August 26, 2016 – via Free Library.
- 1 2 "Fieldbrook Farms to produce private label for CVS drug chain". Ice Cream Reporter. November 20, 2000. Retrieved August 26, 2016 – via Free Library.
- ↑ Mitchell, Dan (December 16, 2010). "Deal frenzy in aisle 4". Fortune. Retrieved August 26, 2016.