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Crystal Hot Sauce returns
by Kathryn Jezer-Morton
03/19/2007
After 18 months of exile and a tough fiscal 2006, Crystal hot sauce is once again being produced and bottled in Louisiana.It’s been an odyssey for the iconic 84-year-old company but CEO Al Baumer of Baumer Foods said the company is growing comfortable in its new digs in Reserve after moving from New Orleans post-Katrina. The company is finishing a $4.5-million rehabilitation of its new plant.
“It’s going well. It’s been a long process,†he said.
Hurricane Katrina destroyed Baumer Foods’ Tulane Avenue manufacturing facility, and Baumer soon was researching companies nationwide to pack Baumer’s products. The company moved its bottling operations to Tennessee, North Carolina and the Northeast.
“We contracted with these companies to make the product for us and ship it to a location where we could have it distributed.â€
This arrangement cost the company in shipping, packing and manufacturers’ fees.
“It was devastating on the financial,†Baumer said of the storm. “We’re dealing with it through insurance payments and personal assets. I’m not going to sit here and tell you that we had enough insurance to deal with all that (damage and cost) We didn’t.â€
The company phased out its mustards, preserves and jellies, but continues to produce Crystal hot sauce and Worcestershire, soy, barbecue, steak and wing sauces.
Although Baumer Foods revenues dropped 20 percent in 2006 to $27.8 million from $35 million in 2005, Baumer anticipates revenues will reach pre-Katrina levels by 2008.
“We’re picking up pretty quick in ‘07,†he said.
In November 2005, all damaged equipment at the Tulane Avenue plant was shipped to South Carolina to be cleaned and repaired. The company began leasing the plant in Reserve in March 2006 and is still working on finishing touches.
The facility, a former plastic bottle plant, required a lot of rehabilitation before the company could move in, Baumer said.
“It’s just an ongoing process,†Baumer said. “But hopefully we’re nearing the end.â€
Chilehead Comments: 8 Comments
Posted by: Nick Lindauer - Categories: Uncategorized
Permalink: Crystal Hot Sauce returns
One year ago: Heaven On Seven Pictures
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8 Comments
See that, we’re always striving to make others lives just a little better than before! 
DEFCON Creator on 3/20/2007 at 3:35 pm said:
See that, we’re always striving to make others lives just a little better than before!
Mission accomplished John.
Is this stuff any good, or is it in the same class as Tabasco, Franks, etc? I’ve seen it at Wal-Mart, but it doesn’t claim to be extremely hot or anything, so I’ve never bothered with it.
I forsee my revenue going from $27.8 to $35.00 in the near future.
Sounds like this would be a good stock to purchase if it’s on the exchange.
Memories…..
When I was 20, I sat down with about 15 little tamales (not 3 hot tamales) and tasted every bottle of hot sauce in my collection on them. I had to find the best sauce for anything edible at the time, and I still do. Crystal was the clear winner. It was pretty much Tabasco – but in a different bottle, but it won the competition hands down. I still have the bottle with a little juice left in it. Its now a disgusting dark brown color, but it’s good to hear that after all this time, their getting it going again. Its also really scary that a company that big had no plan for something like that. If a blizzard hits us in Denver – we’re flying to Columbus to make sauce with Cajohn.
I would like to know where I can purchase Chystal hot sauce in the Fall River, MA 02724 area.
Thanks,
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And to think I used to use this with butter for Wings.
Thanks Defcon!