Blount Fine Foods launches “Clean & Simple”

Hand-crafted soups, sides, entrées and sauces for retail and foodservice manufacturer Blount Fine Foods has announced an initiative called “Clean & Simple,” which it says will lead to cleaner ingredient labels through the elimination of unnecessary and outdated additives, preservatives and flavourings, and more transparency for consumers through a series of on package certifications. The […]

Hand-crafted soups, sides, entrées and sauces for retail and foodservice manufacturer Blount Fine Foods has announced an initiative called “Clean & Simple,” which it says will lead to cleaner ingredient labels through the elimination of unnecessary and outdated additives, preservatives and flavourings, and more transparency for consumers through a series of on package certifications.

The company said it is making a conscious effort to reduce and/or eliminate the use of chemical ingredients, artificial colourings, additives and preservatives in all of its foods, especially those sold under the Blount brand. The goal of the Clean & Simple initiative, it said, is for the company to make and market great tasting minimally processed foods that span organic, clean-label, special diet and traditional favourites.

“Eating well has always meant fresh, delicious foods, but today it means more, including organic foods that taste great, foods with clean and simple ingredients, and even those foods that provide a simply delicious indulgence,” said Todd Blount, president and CEO of Blount Fine Foods. “We have been moving in this direction for the last few years, and have worked closely with our retail brand partners at both Legal Sea Foods and Panera Bread to ensure the retail products we market under their brands are always in step with their ever-improving standards.”

In moving toward this positioning, Blount said it has pursued and implemented several important food certifications, including the Safe Quality Food Institute’s global SQF certification, as well as U.S.-based certifications that permit different Blount products to be labelled Certified Organic, Certified Non-GMO, and/or Certified Gluten-Free, among others. The company said it has also upgraded, updated and streamlined its sourcing, procurement, logistics and production processes to ensure culinary improvements are also business improvements for Blount and its customers.

“The more we work to understand the folks who purchase our products, the more we realize that we cook for knowledgeable, on-the-go consumers who care about providing quality food for themselves and those they love,” said Bob Sewall, Blount’s EVP for sales & marketing. “Today and going forward, the Blount Clean & Simple label will be the source for fine foods, all prepared to premium-quality standards for freshness and wholesomeness – without the use of artificial additives, preservatives or flavourings.”

“Not every product can be labeled ‘certified organic,’ for reasons that are sometimes as simple as the USDA does not certify seafood as organic,” added Sewall. “But if Blount New England Clam Chowder is made with nothing more than clams, potatoes, cream, butter and a few spices, consumers deserve to know the product is much more wholesome than some of the alternatives available, which is what our ‘Clean & Simple’ brand will communicate.”

In rolling out the “Clean & Simple” Initiative, Blount has redesigned Blount-brand product packaging as well as its corporate website and point-of-sale materials.

“I often talk about Blount’s six ‘Outward Values’ that are key to success at the company,” said Blount. “One of them is ‘enable consumers to eat well,’ which is exactly what we are doing by formally putting our stake in the ground on the important issue of food quality and transparency.”