Maple Grove Farms bought by B&G

Vermont Business Magazine, Aug 01, 1998

St Johnsbury's Maple Grove Farm was established 83 years ago. Last month it was announced that Maple Grove Farms of Vermont Inc., was being sold to the Roseland, NJ-based B&G Foods Inc. Although a selling price was not disclosed, some sources indicated the figure may be close to $20 million.

Both Maple Grove President William Callahan and B&G Foods president David Wenner indicated that Maple Grove will remain in St Johnsbury. "I don't know how you make maple syrup without being in Vermont," Wenner was quoted as telling a local reporter. "It just makes sense to keep the operation there."

A statement issued by in a press release said, "The transition is good for the continued growth of Maple Grove and is good for the St Johnsbury community. It will create more jobs with increased sales and expanded product lines."

"They won't give us a number, but they say it will mean a few more jobs," said Charles Carter, executive director of the Northeastern Vermont Development Association.

Joel Schwartz, St Johnsbury's director of economic development, gave the news a lukewarm reception. "It's all good news to some extent," he said. "We always prefer ownership that's nearby."

Maple Grove Farms has been in business since 1915 in St Johnsbury. It began as a producer of maple syrup, growing into one of the leading specialty food manufacturers and maple syrup packers in the United States. Today, in addition to maple syrup, it produces fruit syrups, salad dressings, mixes, sauces, marinades and confections.

Maple Grove has about 155 employees in St Johnsbury, plus another 10 regional sales managers across the country. Officials of the two companies have said that B&G plans to incorporate Maple Grove Farms' products into its national distribution system and use Maple Grove's extensive network of specialty distributors to increase sales of existing B&G products.

The company intends to operate the St Johnsbury facility and to maintain the Maple Grove Farms sales force to service the expanded distribution of the combined companies' products. Maple Grove exports to England, Canada, Danmark, Mexico, Korea and Greece.

B&G Foods produces a wide range of food products, including Vermont Maid syrup, Brer Rabbit molasses, B&G brand pickles and Red Devil hot sauces. Maple syrup and Maple Grove's increasingly popular salad dressings will be new additions to B&G's line.