Red Diamond facts for kids
Red Diamond Inc. is a company from Birmingham, Alabama. They make coffee and tea for stores and restaurants all over the United States. Started in 1906, Red Diamond is one of the oldest coffee and tea companies in the country. It has always been owned and run by the same family!
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How Red Diamond Started
The company began in 1906. A person named William Fitz Donovan started it as Donovan Provision Company. It was located in downtown Birmingham. In the early days, Donovan used horse-drawn wagons. He delivered things like eggs and meat to the growing city.
Soon, Donovan started roasting coffee. He decided to call his coffee brand "Red Diamond." He chose this name because a red diamond is a very high-quality gem. The coffee became so popular that he stopped selling other foods. He focused only on coffee.
Growing with Tea and New Leaders
In the 1920s, William St. Clair Donovan created a special tea blend. This blend is still used today for the company's best tea products. In the 1930s, the company changed its name. It became Donovan Coffee Company. This was because they focused only on coffee and tea.
In 1956, William A. Bowron joined the company. He was the third generation of the family to work there. The company also moved its main office. Under Bowron's leadership, Red Diamond started a new part of the business. This part supplied food and drinks to places like restaurants, hotels, schools, and hospitals.
Modern Expansion and New Products
William A. Bowron Jr. became the current President and CEO in 1991. During his time, the company officially changed its name to Red Diamond, Inc. The company grew a lot and added new products. One popular new product was Red Diamond's ready-to-drink iced tea. This tea comes already brewed and chilled.
In the early 2000s, Red Diamond became the top provider of fresh-brewed, ready-to-drink tea. This tea is found in refrigerated cases in stores. Today, companies like Prairie Farms and Hiland Dairy help distribute Red Diamond Tea.
Moving to a New Home
Red Diamond built a brand new location in Moody, Alabama. They moved into the new buildings in January 2009. This move happened after 100 years in Birmingham. The new campus is very large, about 85 acres. It includes a lake, the main office, and a modern production facility. This facility has advanced machines for making coffee and tea. There is also a large warehouse for storing products. The company expected to hire more people after this move.
Focusing on Coffee and Tea
In June 2017, Red Diamond sold a part of its business. This part was called Red Diamond Foodservice. It sold dry, refrigerated, and frozen food to other businesses. By selling this division, Red Diamond could focus even more on its main business: coffee and tea. This allowed them to expand their coffee and tea products across North America and the Caribbean.
In 2021, Red Diamond celebrated a big milestone: its 115th anniversary! The fifth generation of the family is now working at the company. William A. Bowron III is the Vice President of Wholesale Distribution. Emily Wood Bowron is the Vice President of Strategic Marketing.
