New Orleans food distributors increasing revenues and adding

New Orleans CityBusiness, Mar 18, 2002 by Peter Reichard

Industry consolidation and just plain hard work continue to pay off for regional food distributor Imperial Trading Co., says Chief Executive Officer John Georges. The Elmwood company reported a $15 million increase in revenue to $300 million in 2001, in keeping with several years of healthy increases. As recently as 1996, the company reported just $195 million in revenue.

Imperial distributes some 10,000 food and tobacco products to convenience stores, drug stores and groceries across the South. The company has benefited from the explosive growth of Mississippi Gulf Coast markets and the strength of other markets, such as those in Tennessee and Alabama.

"We're taking advantage of the growth opportunities in the region," Georges says. "We're a very consistent company."

Once again, Zatarain's finds itself among the fastest-growing companies in the New Orleans area. The company long ago outgrew its roots in crab boil and fish fry with the national popularity of its dinner mixes.

Gretna-based Zatarain's, which ended its fiscal year July 31, pulled in $85.1 million in revenue, a 14.5% increase over the previous year. The company maintained its payroll at just over 200 workers, but that comes after several years of snowballing; as recently as fiscal 1997, Zatarain's employed only 95 workers, sustained by revenue of $30.5 million.

Revenue growth at Al Copeland Investments Inc. continued, but slowed a bit. In 2001, the company grew by 7%; the previous year, the company grew by nearly 11%. Also in 2001, the company's payroll shrank to 2,128 from 2,281 the previous year.

The Metairie-based company has begun construction on a $22 million spice-making plant in western St. Tammany Parish for restaurant supply subsidiary Diversified Food & Seasonings Inc. The facility, which will employ about 175, is expected to be completed this summer. While the Diversified plant in Metairie will remain in operation, the company's headquarters will ultimately relocate to the site in St. Tammany. Diversified is also renovating its plant in Mobile.

Baumer Foods Inc., the maker of local tabletop standby Crystal hot sauce saw little change in revenue in 2001, but the company increased its employee base by almost 17% in 2001, to 280 workers.