[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 57 (Tuesday, March 28, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E707]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF RICH PRODUCTS CORP.

                                 ______


                            HON. JACK QUINN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 28, 1995
  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 50th 
anniversary of Rich Products Corp., the Nation's largest family-owned 
frozen foods manufacturer founded and headquartered in Buffalo, NY.
  Rich Products has had a long-standing tradition of teamwork, 
innovation, and a commitment to excellence.
  This all began in 1945 when Robert E. Rich, Sr., founder and chairman 
of the board, directed a laboratory team to find a vegetable-based 
replacement for whip cream from the new source known as the soybean. 
They discovered that the soybean substance could be frozen, thawed, and 
whipped.
  This new, revolutionary product was named Rich's Whip Topping and 
served to open and define the new world of nondairy products to the 
frozen food industry. It also made Rich Products the leader and 
innovator in the industry.
  Since this time, Rich's Products Corp. has introduced innovative 
products like Coffee Rich, the Nation's first nondairy creamer. it is 
the only nationally distributed creamer on the market that is truly 100 
percent cholesterol free and low in saturated fats.
  Rich Products continued to expand both in size and its product line. 
Frozen baked goods were soon added to Rich's lineup. This was followed 
by the additions of frozen dough, frozen seafood specialties, soup 
bases, gravy mixes, powdered coffee creamers, frozen Italian pasta and 
meat, frozen fruit and barbecue and specialty meat products.
  Rich's also opened a new area in the industry with another innovation 
known as freeze flo. This is an all natural process that allows foods 
to remain soft while frozen.
  Rich Products Corp. now employs over 7,000 people nationally and 
internationally with manufacturing sites and field offices throughout 
North America and the world. Rich's is headquartered on the banks of 
the Niagara River in Buffalo, NY with sales now exceed $940 million 
annually.
  Throughout all its history, Rich Products Corp. has maintained a 
strong commitment to the western New York community. Rich's and its 
president, Robert E. Rich, Jr., demonstrated this with their effort to 
keep baseball in Buffalo. Bob Rich took a failing franchise and brought 
it to the forefront of professional baseball in many ways including 
breaking the million mark in attendance for 5 straight years. Bob Rich, 
Jr., also serves on numerous boards throughout the western New York 
community.
  Rich Products Corp. is also the parent company for Rich 
Communications which runs two radio stations in the western New York 
broadcast market.
  Robert E. Rich, Sr., has also demonstrated his commitment to the 
community by serving on the boards of over 30 organizations in western 
New York including the University of Buffalo, Buffalo General Hospital, 
and the United Fund of Buffalo and Erie County just to name a few.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor the Rich Products Corp.; the 
chairman of the board, Robert E. Rich, Sr.; and the president, Robert 
E. Rich, Jr. I salute their 50-year history and the lifelong commitment 
of both these citizens to the western New York community. I wish them 
continued success into the next century.


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