A Rich Heritage

The story of Rich Products Corporation began in 1935, when Robert E. Rich was the owner and operator of Wilber Farms Dairy. While serving as Michigan's War Food Administrator, Mr. Rich learned about unique research being conducted at the George Washington Carver Institute. Soybeans, it seemed, had the potential to be used for innovative new food products.

In 1945, while investigating the use of soybeans as a vegetable-based replacement for whipped cream, Mr. Rich invented Rich's® Whip Topping®, the world's first frozen non-dairy whipped topping. The new product, immediately hailed as "the Miracle Cream from the Soya Bean," revolutionized food processing and opened up a whole new world of non-dairy products to the growing frozen-food industry. It also marked the birth of Rich Products Corporation.

From the success of its whipped topping, the young company turned its focus toward development of other revolutionary products, including frozen crème puffs, frozen éclairs and the product that made Rich's a household name, Coffee Rich®.

Today, Rich's is a global operation, with more than 50 locations spanning six continents. Rich's began reaching outside the United States in the 1980s, and today produces more than 2,000 products sold in 100 countries around the globe. The company remains one of the largest family-owned frozen-food manufactures, with more than $2.9 billion in annual sales.

1945: Miracle Cream from the Soya Bean

Rich's was founded in 1945 with a startling development by Robert E. Rich, Sr., who directed a laboratory team to search for a vegetable-based replacement for whipped cream derived from a new source – the soya bean.

While still in the development stage, Rich discovered that the soya bean substance could be frozen, thawed and whipped. The new product, immediately hailed as "the miracle cream from the soya bean," revolutionized food processing and opened up a new world of non-dairy products to the growing frozen food industry.

The miracle cream was called Rich's Whip Topping non-dairy topping and later served as the springboard for a series of ground breaking non-dairy products.

1950s: Eclairs, Crème Puffs & Coffee Rich

With the success of whippable topping established, the company focuses its attention on developing more new products and innovations. In 1954, Rich's introduces the first commercial line of frozen éclairs and crème puffs, which it is still famous for today.

Following months of exhaustive research and development, Coffee Rich, the nation's first frozen non-dairy creamer, hits the supermarket shelves, making Rich's a household name.

1960s: Expansion & Frozen Baked Goods

Sparked by demand for Rich's growing product line, the 1960s are a period of corporate expansion beginning with the construction of a manufacturing plant in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada (just minutes west of the Buffalo headquarters, over the Canadian/United States border) in 1962, now known as Rich Products of Canada, Ltd.

Frozen baked goods are added to Rich's expanding product line-up in the 1960s with the acquisition of Elm Tree Baking Co. in Appleton, Wisconsin in 1969.

1970s: Expansion, Diversification, Innovation

Rich's continues aggressive manufacturing expansion by acquiring nine new production sites in California, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and building a new plant in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. In 1976, Rich's further diversifies its food portfolio with the acquisition of SeaPak, a provider of seafood specialties based in St. Simons Island, Georgia.

Building upon a history of success and innovation in the non-dairy segment, Rich's introduces Bettercreme Icing and Filling in 1978. The revolutionary product changes the cake decorating industry with its spreadable nature and shelf stable qualities.

1980s: Freeze Flo, OnTop, Aggressive Acquisition

Rich's solidifies its industry leadership position with two significant product innovations in the 1980s. In 1980, Rich's introduces Freeze Flo, and all-natural process that allows food to remain soft while frozen or be served right from the freezer. And in 1986, Rich's introduces On Top non-dairy dessert topping, which was the first topping to be packaged in a pastry bag with its own tip. The product offers operators unprecedented levels of convenience, decorating creativity, and value. Rich's continues its aggressive expansion throughout the 1980s with purchases of frozen food manufacturing facilities in California, Georgia, New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

Rich's also continues to diversify its product offering with the purchase of frozen Italian pasta and meat specialty producer, Casa di Betacchi Corporation of Vineland, New Jersey in 1982; and the purchase of barbecue and specialty meat producer Byron's, Inc. of Gallatin, Tennessee, in 1988.

Along with significant increases in its frozen food production capabilities, the 1980s also saw Rich's diversify its portfolio with the purchase of three minor league baseball franchises including the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons in 1983. Since joining the Rich's family, the Bisons have put up record breaking attendance numbers and continue to be a model minor league baseball franchise.

1990s: International Expansion

Rich’s continues to grow its United States manufacturing network with acquisitions of new production sites in Massachusetts, Ohio, and with construction of a building a new facility in Niles, Illinois. The company also begins to expand into international markets by opening more than 20 sales offices in major cities throughout Asia, Europe, and Latin America in the 1990s.

As product demand grows in these international markets, Rich's invests in several production facilities abroad including: Productos Rich in 1994, one of Mexico's first frozen-dough manufacturing operations; Rich Products of South Africa in 1995, providing bakery products for distribution throughout South Africa; and Rich Products of China in 1998, the company's first wholly-owned international non-dairy production facility opens in Suzhou, China. Rich's international business now includes 11 manufacturing facilities and sells products in more than 80 countries around the world.

2000s: Continued Growth & Success

Rich's further expands its product portfolio through acquisition and product innovation. Early in the decade, Rich's adds an impressive portfolio of fully-finished frozen desserts by completing the acquisitions of Jon Donaire Desserts in Santa Fe Springs, California and Mother's Kitchen Desserts in Burlington, New Jersey. Rich's also bolsters its existing product lines with the acquisitions of frozen cake and bakery mix producer JW Allen & Co. in 2000, and leading donut producer Rolling Pin Manufacturing in 2005. And Rich's expands its product line and manufacturing capabilities in Europe with the acquisition of David Powell Bakeries in Fareham, U.K..

In addition to acquisitions, Rich's Research & Development team carries on a heritage of food innovation by introducing several award-winning new products, such as Rich's Della Suprema Wheat Sheeted Pizza Dough, Tiki Bay Premium Blended Beverages, and Niagara Farms Premium Blended Whipped Topping.

While indulgence remains at the core of Rich's product portfolio, the company also develops a focus on health and wellness related products by forming a strategic alliance with French Meadow Bakery based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and acquiring WorldCatch LLC, a provider of all-natural seafood and GLP Manufacturing, a gluten-free baked goods manufacturer.

2011 and beyond

Rich Products Corporation kicks off 2011 with the acquisitions of Celebration Foods, a leading manufacturer and distributor of frozen desserts and ice cream cakes, as well as VSE International, a wholesale bakery manufacturing company locally based in Sydney. The Celebration business brings with it a license agreement for Carvel-branded ice-cream cakes in certain distribution channels, along with assets in manufacturing, corporate operations, R&D, and a direct-store-distribution system.

Rich's also begins planning a strategic realignment to more-effectively take advantage of global market opportunities. The conversion to one global structure sets the stage for the company to leverage its enterprise-wide infrastructure and talented workforce to facilitate the flow of knowledge and best practices across its expanding global footprint. The major structural shift in 2012 converts the company's two separate business groups – North America and International – into one seamless, global Rich's organization consisting of five geographic operations: United States/Canada Region; Latin America Region; Asia Pacific Region; Europe/Middle East Region; and South Africa Region.