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History of Wells Manufacturing and Bloomfield Industries |
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| Every time you visit a restaurant, eat fast food, or hire a caterer, there's a good chance that the cook prepared your food with equipment built in Northern Nevada. Wells/Bloomfield, a leading supplier of commercial cooking equipment, is nestled in the Sierra foothills next to the Truckee River in the quiet community of Verdi, about 11 miles west of downtown Reno. The company's products can be found nationally and internationally in establishments ranging from family-owned restaurants to giant fast-food chains and hotels. | |
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History
of Wells
Founded in San Francisco in 1920 by George F. Wells, the Wells Manufacturing Company produced electric cooking products. In 1925 George Wells invented and patented a new waffle baker - a move that launched his company into the commercial appliance industry. The firm moved in 1968 to Verdi, and was later purchased by Beatrice Foods Company. In 1985 it became part of the Chicago-based Specialty Equipment Companies, Inc. In 1993 Specialty Equipment relocated the Bloomfield company from Chicago and merged it into the Wells operations in Verdi. |
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Today, Wells/Bloomfield continues to focus on research and development to meet changing market needs. Paul Angrick, president of Wells/Bloomfield, sees a growing market for compact food-service equipment for nontraditional food locations. "Our equipment is small and portable - ideal for this type of future development, " he says. "We have developed products for malls, mobile units, small retail spaces - even casinos." |
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Wells Manufacturing's major product lines include electric warming and cooking appliances such as fryers, griddles, convection ovens, broilers, food warmers, toasters, hotplates, waffle bakers and other specialized products built exclusively for chain restaurants. |
| History
Of Bloomfield
In 1933, Samuel Bloomfield started in the business of manufacturing display and pie cases in a 2,000 square foot plant in Chicago. His sons, Daniel and Harold, assisted in the business. In 1935, they began adding small ware items such as sugar pourers, kitchen utensils, salt and pepper shakers. Between 1939 and 1941, rapid business growth allowed them to expand the business to a 55,000 sq. ft. building. At this time, the Bloomfields became very active in government business and, with the onset of World War II, did a sizable business with government contract offices. They continued to add a variety of smallwares to their growing product lines. Samuel Bloomfield passed away in 1954, and Daniel and Harold Bloomfield took over the business. The product line was expanded to several hundred products creating the need for 93,200 sq. ft., plus 320,000 sq. ft. of vacant space for future expansion at 4546 West 47th Street in southwest Chicago. |
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1961, Bloomfield acquired the commercial division of the Proctor-Silex
Company and began manufacturing coffee brewers for distribution in the
commercial foodservice market. By this time, Bloomfield had become a major
manufacturer serving foodservice dealers and distributors.
In 1964, Bloomfield was acquired by Beatrice Foods Company but operated independently under the established management. The company continued to expand their business in the foodservice industry, as well as the custom deep drawn stamping business and stainless steel medical products industry. In 1984, Bloomfield along with four other Beatrice companies, Market Forge, Wells Manufacturing, Taylor Freeze and World Dryer, were purchased by an investment firm and structured under the corporate umbrella of Specialty Equipment Companies. In 1985 it became part of the Chicago-based Specialty Equipment Companies, Inc. (SEC) In 1993 SEC relocated Bloomfield from Chicago and merged it into the Wells operations in Verdi. In addition to Wells/Bloomfield, Specialty was the parent of four other manufacturing divisions: Taylor Company, the world's foremost producer of soft-serve ice cream and shake machines; Beverage Air, which makes commercial refrigeration and reach-in coolers; Carter-Hoffmann, a leading supplier of holding, transporting, rethermalizing and serving equipment; and World Dryer, a manufacturer of commercial wall-mounted hand dryers. |
Bloomfield has begun to emerge as a major manufacturer of counter top electrical products as coffee brewer sales increased. Bloomfield also began manufacturing food warmers, chafers and portable buffet counters. Among Bloomfield's major products are coffee and iced tea brewers, coffee warmers, insulated beverage dispensers, and glass coffee pots with customized silk screen graphics. Beverage equipment continued to be a major thrust for the company and had now grown to be a substantial part of the total business mix. Bloomfield had become a solid number two in beverage equipment and supply sales, displacing some long term competitors in the industry.
Today Bloomfield supports a sales force of 25 in 25 territories throughout
the U.S.. Bloomfield has offices in Holland and Taiwan to address foreign
market opportunities. The company has 1200 active distributors in the
foodservice industry and 6700 Office Coffee distributors. |
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| In 2000 all of the SEC divisions were purchased by United Technologies and became a division Carrier Commercial Refrigeration, Inc. | |
| In August 2007, Wells Manufacturing Co. and Bloomfield Industries, Inc. were purchased by the Middleby Corporation and renamed Wells Bloomfield, LLC. | |
| Growing with the Reno Area | |
| The
Reno area has been good to
Wells/Bloomfield; sales have increased tenfold since the company joined
the community, and the 1993 consolidation resulted in a major expansion
and remodeling of the Verdi and Sparks facilities.
Firmly entrenched on the western edge of the Truckee Meadows, Wells/Bloomfield
is dedicated to northern Nevada's future and will continue to be a positive
force in the growth of the community.
Today, Wells/Bloomfield occupies six buildings totaling 132,300 square feet at the 10 acre site in Verdi. An additional 28,000 square foot facility in Sparks serves as a warehouse and distribution center. Wells/Bloomfield also has subsidiary plants and warehouses in Chicago, Toronto and Holland. The company is committed to the community that has fueled its growth. Wells/Bloomfield is active in the Greater Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce and the Partners in Education program. The company also belongs to the Nevada World Trade Council and is involved with Western Industrial Nevada. |
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