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[[Image:Red Diamond logo.gif|right|175px]] | [[Image:Red Diamond logo.gif|right|175px]] | ||
'''Red Diamond, Inc.''' is a a beverage and food service company | '''Red Diamond, Inc.''' is a a beverage and food service company founded in [[Birmingham]] in [[1906]] and currently headquartered at 400 Park Avenue near [[Moody]]. | ||
The president, [[Bill Bowron, Jr]], is the fourth generation of the founder's family to run the company. | |||
== History == | == History == | ||
Red Diamond started in | Red Diamond started in 1906 as the label for coffees and teas packaged by the '''Donovan Provision Company''', founded by [[William Fitz Donovan]]. The demand for coffee and tea led Donovan to focus on that facet of the business, changing the company name to '''Donovan Coffee Company'''. The name of the company was changed again later to feature the popular Red Diamond brand label. | ||
One Saturday in the fall of [[1955]] the Red Diamond building burned to the ground. Other roasters allowed Red Diamond to use their facilities in off hours until they could re-open at 1701 [[Vanderbilt Road]] in the [[Vanderbilt]] neighborhood. | One Saturday in the fall of [[1955]] the Red Diamond building burned to the ground. Other roasters allowed Red Diamond to use their facilities in off hours until they could re-open at 1701 [[Vanderbilt Road]] in the [[Vanderbilt]] neighborhood. | ||
[[Image:1960s Red Diamond ad still.jpg|left|thumb|225px|1960s Red Diamond television ad]] | |||
In [[1956]] [[William Bowron]] took the helm as president and CEO. Over the next decades he oversaw Red Diamond's transition to wholesale delivery and the company's expansion into a national presence. The company also introduced several innovations to the coffee and tea industry, including gallon-size teabags, decaffeinated tea and "brick pack" vacuum-packed coffee. Red Diamond was also a pioneer among coffee distributors for its use of radio and television advertising. From [[1962]] to the early 1970s, Jim Henson's Muppet characters "Wilkins and Wontkins" appeared in ads for Red Diamond Coffee (as well as for other regional brands around the country). | In [[1956]] [[William Bowron]] took the helm as president and CEO. Over the next decades he oversaw Red Diamond's transition to wholesale delivery and the company's expansion into a national presence. The company also introduced several innovations to the coffee and tea industry, including gallon-size teabags, decaffeinated tea and "brick pack" vacuum-packed coffee. Red Diamond was also a pioneer among coffee distributors for its use of radio and television advertising. From [[1962]] to the early 1970s, Jim Henson's Muppet characters "Wilkins and Wontkins" appeared in ads for Red Diamond Coffee (as well as for other regional brands around the country). | ||
Revision as of 02:18, 5 February 2011
Red Diamond, Inc. is a a beverage and food service company founded in Birmingham in 1906 and currently headquartered at 400 Park Avenue near Moody.
The president, Bill Bowron, Jr, is the fourth generation of the founder's family to run the company.
History
Red Diamond started in 1906 as the label for coffees and teas packaged by the Donovan Provision Company, founded by William Fitz Donovan. The demand for coffee and tea led Donovan to focus on that facet of the business, changing the company name to Donovan Coffee Company. The name of the company was changed again later to feature the popular Red Diamond brand label.
One Saturday in the fall of 1955 the Red Diamond building burned to the ground. Other roasters allowed Red Diamond to use their facilities in off hours until they could re-open at 1701 Vanderbilt Road in the Vanderbilt neighborhood.
In 1956 William Bowron took the helm as president and CEO. Over the next decades he oversaw Red Diamond's transition to wholesale delivery and the company's expansion into a national presence. The company also introduced several innovations to the coffee and tea industry, including gallon-size teabags, decaffeinated tea and "brick pack" vacuum-packed coffee. Red Diamond was also a pioneer among coffee distributors for its use of radio and television advertising. From 1962 to the early 1970s, Jim Henson's Muppet characters "Wilkins and Wontkins" appeared in ads for Red Diamond Coffee (as well as for other regional brands around the country).
In 1991 Bowron and his wife, Shila bought controlling interest in the company to head off a takeover.
As of 2006, Red Diamond employed 165. They planned to add 40 employees by expanding their facility, but negotiations with Jefferson County to purchase the Jefferson County Motor Fleet building, adjacent to Red Diamond's operations on Vanderbilt Road, stalled. Subsequently, Red Diamond announced that they would build a new facility near Moody in St Clair County.
In January 2007 the Birmingham City Council rejected a proposal from Red Diamond to provide services to the city. Councilor Roderick Royal exclaimed that "Red Diamond stabbed this city in the back, and I don't intend to support any company that stabs this city in the back." Bowron later disputed Royal's appreciation of the facts that led the company to move (Bryant).
On April 22, 2009, Red Diamond held the grand opening of its 65-acre campus near Moody. The business has plans to expand its product line and hopes to become the country's second-largest tea company by 2012.
References
- Wright, Barnett (August 6, 2006) "Red Diamond may leave Jeffco". Birmingham News
- Rountree, David (September 8, 2006) "Red Diamond deal lacks only ink on paper." Birmingham Business Journal
- "Red Diamond, Inc." (January 2007) Birmingham Then & Now Special Promotion. Birmingham Magazine. Vol. 47, No. 1, p. 129
- Bryant, Joseph D. (January 24, 2007) "Red Diamond bid rejected by council." Birmingham News
- Thornton, William (November 16, 2008) "William Bowron, Red Diamond executive, dies." Birmingham News
- Jarvis, Crystal. (April 22, 2009.) "Red Diamond opens new Moody facility." Birmingham Business Journal
- Williams, Roy L. (December 1, 2009) "Red Diamond brewing up growth plans, CEO says." Birmingham News
External link
- Red Diamond website
- 1960s Red Diamond ads on YouTube