Blount launches Clean & Simple label initiative

Blount Fine Foods, Fall River, Mass., a manufacturer of premium hand-crafted soups, sides, entrées and sauces for retail and foodservice under its own brand and private brand, said it will elevate and enhance its premium position in both the retail and foodservice marketplaces. Called “Clean & Simple,” the effort will immediately lead to cleaner ingredient labels through the elimination of unnecessary and outdated additives, preservatives and flavorings, and more transparency for consumers through a series of on package certifications.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 colorings, additives and preservatives in all of its foods, especially those sold under the Blount brand. The goal of the Clean & Simple initiative is for the company to make and market great-tasting minimally processed foods that span organic, clean-label, special diet and traditional favorites.

“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 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 labeled Certified Organic, Certified Non-GMO, and/or Certified Gluten-Free, among others. The company 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,” added Bob Sewall, Blount’s executive vice president of sales and 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 flavorings.”