Thom King, president and owner of Portland-based Steviva Brands, has announced plans to invest $500,000 of capital improvements in the Bonneau Products facility located in Northeastern Portland. King purchased the building on December 30, 2013, to increase production of Bonneau products as well as diversify the company’s food and beverage portfolio.
The 16,000-square-foot facility was built in 1931 as a smoke house for ham and cured meats. In 1947, Paul Le Vasseaur Bonneau founded Bonneau Products and added a food and water production area to the building. Since then, Chef Bonneau soup, sauce bases, vinegars, soy sauces and Worchester sauces have been manufactured at the facility for foodservice customers.
In 1970, reverse osmosis and water distillers were added and the company began producing the first distilled bottled waters in the Pacific Northwest. Renovation and expansion of the water purification business is already underway with increased sales, as well as the creation of Cascadian Springs artisan spring water and Mount Hood mountain spring water.
“Bonneau Foods and Water have been running in the red for the past four years,” said King. “We thoroughly reviewed the business, have implemented a plan to turn things around, and are forecasting profits within the next 90 days.”
The company also plans to add an all-natural, gluten-free line of gravy, sauces and soup bases under the Bonneau Foods line to meet the needs of restaurateurs catering to health-conscious consumers. Additionally, Trinity Hill Farms, local producer of all-natural, gourmet condiments, marinades and sauces, will also relocate to the building in a move to combine sales efforts with the Chef Bonneau brand.
Building improvements include upgrades such as an R&D kitchen that will serve as an incubator for new products, as well as new equipment and increased warehouse storage. The company plans on adding five new employees over the next two to three months.
“We are very excited about the opportunity to grow a business so rich with Portland history,” said King. “In addition to preserving a piece of Portland heritage, we will be adding local jobs and enhancing the local community which sits directly in a revitalization area.”
