Blount Fine Foods Announces Line of Gourmet Retail Soups.

Leading Handcrafted Soup Maker Taps National Trend Toward Delicious, Wholesome, Easy-to-prepare Soups

BOSTON -- Blount Fine Foods, a leading manufacturer of hand-crafted artesian soups and seafood products, today announced at the Boston Seafood Show that it is launching a line of gourmet soups for retail sale under the Blount brand. Company president Todd Blount made the announcement during a presentation to clients.

"We sell our hand crafted products to many of the finest restaurants in the country, and we take great pride in making America's favorite soups," noted Blount. "With the launch of this line under our own brand name, we are also making a conscious effort to upgrade America's soup experience."

Blount adds its new line to an already successful retail presence that includes fresh gourmet soups sold under the Panera Bread and Legal Sea Food brands in club stores everywhere.

"While people are eating out less, they still want the quality and experience of a restaurant. These restaurant soups give the consumer a 'night-out' experience in the home," added Blount enthusiastically.

The new Blount soups will be sold frozen in convenient reusable 20 ounce cups in three flavors:

* New England Clam Chowder 

* Lobster Bisque 

* Shrimp & Corn Chowder 

In addition to the three core varieties, seasonal specialties are also planned around the autumn and holiday seasons. Those flavors will be announced as they become available.

The Blount Soups will initially be available in grocery and specialty stores around New England, up and down the east coast and in club stores around the country in double-packs. Consumers should expect to find the product in the frozen or frozen seafood case.

Mr. Blount reminded attendees at the Boston Seafood Show that soup has become much more of a central dinner item and that the warming goodness of soup is always appealing to Americans, especially when the soup is made from delicious, wholesome ingredients and is quick and easy to prepare.

"Gourmet soups are one of the fastest growing retail food categories," added Bob Sewall, vice president of sales and marketing at Blount. "Blount Soups afford consumers the chance to enjoy gourmet restaurant quality soup at home without spending the day in the kitchen."

The suggested retail for the 20 ounce soups is expected to range from $5.99-6.99. Product will begin shipping to stores immediately.

About Blount Fine Foods

Blount Fine Foods is a family owned company that has been processing food since 1946. It is the largest manufacturer of lobster bisque in America and produces more than 350 proprietary soup recipes, including 75 varieties of clam chowder alone. Its product lines include fresh and frozen gourmet soups for food-service and retail as well as custom clam meat products and breaded seafood. Blount's gourmet soups and specialty foods are made with the finest and freshest ingredients, handcrafted by a dedicated team through unparalleled customer collaboration.

Blount operates production facilities at its Fall River, Massachusetts headquarters and in Warren, Rhode Island. Additionally, the famous Blount Clam Shack in Warren has become a favorite among locals and a summer tourist attraction on the Rhode Island coast.

Blount's customers include national restaurant chains that have their custom soups made for them in accordance with their secret recipes. Similarly, the deli departments of many large and small supermarket chains offer Blount-created hot-to-go soup selections as well as fresh store-brand pre-packed soup cups.

Blount also carries a full line of fresh and frozen soups sold to Restaurants, Club Stores and Retailers nationwide under the Legal Sea Foods and Panera Bread brands. Blount specialty clam products are used by other famous soup makers, restaurants and retailers alike.

The hallmark of Blount's success is a great team, known as 'Team Blount'. This team works hard to assure great customer service and impeccable quality. Blount has been the partner of choice for some of America's best-known foodservice distributors, restaurateurs, retailers, club stores and other food processors.

The company is managed by an innovative and collaborative management team and supported by well trained and empowered production team that generates over 60 million servings of hand-crafted gourmet soups each year.

EDITORS NOTE: Photography of packaging and plated soup as well as product samples available upon request.