3811 Corporate Road Petersburg, Virginia, 23805- United States
Company Details
About Old Mansion Foods Inc
About
HISTORY
Old Mansion, making history since 1877.
Old Mansion’s growth and success has earned us a place in the history of this 4,000-year-old spice story of commerce, trade--and flavor. Our “modern” story cannot be told without knowing a bit about the evolution of the spice trade.
Spices as good as gold.
From their earliest origins, spices have been recognized as a precious commodity that could be coveted and traded much like gold. Spice history begins with overland trading and transportation by donkey or camel caravans. The pungent aromas, unique flavors and colors of spices led them to be used not only for preserving and flavoring food, but in cosmetics, medicines, and more.
Spices were so highly prized and traded that eventually competition drove the development of new maritime trade routes as important as the Silk Road that connected Asia with Africa, the Middle East and southern Europe. It was a monopoly of the spice trade by the Republic of Venice that, in part, had Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Magellan set sail for new spice sources and advantageous trade routes.
In the late 17th century it was the state-authorized French East India Company and other East India companies that jockeyed for advantage. By the 19th century, British and Dutch operations were largely dominant in important spice regions of India, Ceylon and the East Indies. This is the era that Old Mansion enters spice history.
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LATE 1800S
Old Mansion is established on September 1, 1877, currently making it one of the oldest, continually operated specialty food companies in the U.S.
Less than 12 years after President Andrew Johnson declares the end of the Civil War, Old Mansion, originally called C.W. Antrim & Sons, begins roasting coffee in Richmond, Virginia.
Packaging constraints and distribution challenges mean its first customers were local in the Richmond area. Customer service was important then, as it is now, but might be delivered from a horse and wagon.
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EARLY 1900S
Early growth in the next century built on expanding distribution routes and product lines.
By the turn of the century, C.W. Antrim expanded their distribution lines to outlying regions, not unlike the traders of ancient spice history.
“Spice” becomes part of the language at C.W. Antrim as it expands its product lines for its customers to include spices, bulk rices and more. Customers in the Southeast came to rely on Old Mansion for flavor and freshness as they do today.
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DOWNTURNS & UPTURNS
The spice business suffers in the Great Depression and prospers during World War II.
Very few companies and very few people were not impacted by the Great Depression. Sales for C.W. Antrim were strong in the 1920Â’s up to the Depression, and the company struggled, as did the nation.
C.W. Antrim landed government contracts during World War II that helped to change the companyÂ’s future. Outside of these contracts, product distribution was still handled by route trucks and sold through general stores and restaurants. Today Old Mansion customers cover the globe.
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THE NEW GENERATION PROSPERS
The 1960s usher in the expansion and dominance of the large grocery store chains.
Grocery chains such as A&P and Safeway increase their dominance nationwide. Coffee shelf space is gobbled up by companies like Folgers and Maxwell House.
Even spice “facings” and shelf space are commandeered by the giant McCormick. Old Mansion maintained its well-established distribution system (route trucks) to provide superior customer service.
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OLD MANSION TODAY
An ancient trade meets the modern era of purity, safety and transparency.
In 1985 the business was purchased by the current owners, the Patton family. Two generations work directly in the business. The new business begins to shift from being a retail processor to a focus on the industrial and food service markets. The company has realized consistent sales growth every year since the Pattons took ownership.
Just as in the days of the ancient spice trade, customers look to Old Mansion for flavor and freshness. On top of that, customers today need assurances of food safety and purity, as well as transparency into where products are sourced and how they are handled from field-to-fork. Old Mansion customers can rest assured, knowing their products combine these ancient trade relationships with modern methods, delivering the highest in quality, however it is measured.
