We Are…
We Are…
Ben E. Keith Company is committed to being a respected corporate citizen within the communities which we operate.
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Ben E. Keith Foods and Kelley Foods of Alabama are two families coming together as one.
The 5-Star Food Safety Process is unmatched in the produce industry. Check out the latest video detailing the process.
September 27 2017 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
You’re Invited!
Come see the diverse line-up of food, beverage,
equipment and supplies as well as technology.
October 04 2017 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
See new items, get new ideas, take advantage of show day deals, speak directly with manufacturer representatives, and visit with industry professionals - all in one day.
October 09 2017 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Please join us October 9th at Chenal Country Club in Little Rock for our annual Holiday Show. We will have over 50 vendors showcasing products & demonstrating new ideas to help you with your upcoming holiday menus.
October 25 2017 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
A Great Way To Get Out Of The Kitchen!
Come To The Midland Food Expo!
November 08 2017 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Ben E. Keith Foods West Texas Division
Plan Your Holiday Menu, Taste Our Finest,
And Enjoy An Evening of OH WHAT FUN!
Make Your Plans Today!
Ben E. Keith Foods announces two significant and immediate promotions in their General Office.
With #technology changing every second in the restaurant industry are #Chatbots the next big thing? bit.ly/2wahNcD - 22 Sep ago
Please click here to view a @Markon_Produce Live from the Fields video about the Third Annual Markon Chef Summit: ow.ly/9ivO30fhoGn - 19 Sep ago
The VISION
The evolution of Ben E. Keith Company has occurred through visionary management. No one knew our humble beginnings in 1906 as a produce company would lead to one of the nation's largest broad line food service distributors. In 1906, Ben E. Keith was known as Harkrider-Morrison Company and was a wholesaler of groceries and sundries. Within a few years of its founding, Ben E. Keith's knowledge of routing, operations, and sales pulled him into a leadership role, and, by 1931, the company was renamed after him.
While Keith accomplished many remarkable achievements, none are more valuable to the Beverage Division as his decision to venture into the selling of ice cream syrups to offset the summer loss of sales of vegetables and fruits. In 1928, Keith visited St. Louis and met with Adolphus Busch, whose brewery was making syrups, baker's yeast and other products since it could not brew beer during Prohibition. When Prohibition ended, Ben E. Keith Company became a wholesaler of Anheuser Busch beers. Mr. Keith's assistant was also instrumental in creating the Fresh From Keith slogan. This slogan helped market and advertise the fresh fruits and vegetables sold by the company and the slogan is still used to this day. But Ben E. Keith will always stand out in his employees eyes for establishing the Company's pension and profit-sharing plan. This was one of the first companies to establish an employee relations program in the 1940's.
Then enters Gaston Hallam, the father of Robert and Howard, our current owners. Gaston began his career with the company in 1924 and later became a major stockholder, president and chairman. He was witness to the evolution of refrigerated, package trucks, the advent of frozen foods, which had been available on an institutional basis long before they came to the consumer market after World War II, and the creation of the first electronic fork lift. When Gaston decided to step down from his Chairman position in 1979, he announced his son Robert as his successor.
It was under the leadership of Robert that many things began to change. Under Robert, the food division went from being a produce distributor to one of the largest full-service institutional distributors in the country. Ben E. Keith Foods reached over $100 million in sales. The Beverage Division achieved a milestone in December of 1982 when it was the second distributor in the country to sell a million barrels of beer in one calendar year. Both Food and Beverage continued to grow over the next several decades but the next large milestone for Food did not come until 2004, when the company reached over $1 billion in sales.
Although the company has received many awards over the past century, the best award achieved has been the milestone of reaching 100 years in business. Successfully partnering with suppliers and employees to service wonderful customers and helping their business to grow and succeed. It is the continued vision of our leaders throughout the years that has made Ben E. Keith Company a success.
