Blue Diamond Opens Almond Innovation and Research Center At Sacramento, California Headquarters
03/14/2013
"Every major innovation in almonds has come from Blue Diamond," explained Blue Diamond President and CEO, Mark Jansen.
Blue Diamond, a cooperative owned by over half of the state's almond growers, expects to increase new almond product sales growth five-fold over the next five years. "The new facility will be a showcase for initiating new almond product concepts for our consumer business and for the most innovative global food companies," added Jansen.
The firm’s expansion is fueled by increase sales for almond-based products. The success of Blue Diamond's investment in new snack products broke all sales records in the North American market in 2012, the company said. While Blue Diamond's snack almond business grew 21 percent, the Almond Breeze Aseptic Milk business jumped 21 percent and chilled Almond Milk sales skyrocketed 59 percent. Nut Thins cracker sales rose 28 percent. New snack products introduced early in 2013 include Roasted Coffee, Mocha and Caramel Macchiato flavored almonds, and three fruit-inspired flavors, Raspberry, Blueberry and Strawberry.
Likewise in the global ingredients business where almonds are used in a variety of foods, sales increased 35 percent and almonds remained in first place as the leading nut in new food products worldwide. Value-added revenues over the last two years are up 69 percent.
"Global almond product innovation has doubled Blue Diamond revenues in three years to well over $1 billion in sales," said Jansen. "The robustness of U.S. almond shipments, even with this year's short supply, is directly attributable to new uses for almonds that our cooperative has created."
The 2-billion pound California almond crop is valued at $6 billion and generates nearly 50,000 jobs. New jobs and additional revenue will be returned to almond growing communities as production and value-added products continue to grow, the company said. Over 80 percent of the world's supply is grown in California. Almonds are the state's largest food export and the largest specialty crop export in America.
Project Announcements
Southeastern Timber Products Expands Ackerman, Mississippi Sawmill, Operations
02/07/2025
HII Plans Berkeley County, South Carolina, Operations
02/05/2025
South Korea-Based SPC Group Plans Burleson, Texas, Production Operations
02/05/2025
Diageo North America Plans Montgomery, Alabama, Manufacturing-Warehouse Operations
02/05/2025
Octillion Power Systems Establishes Reno, Nevada, Battery Manufacturing Operations
02/05/2025
Letica Expands Fulton County, Kentucky, Operations
02/05/2025
Most Read
-
2024's Leading Metro Locations: U.S. Cities on the Rise Amid an Economic Reshuffling
Q4 2024
-
The Workforce Factor: How States Are Competing to Build Tomorrow's Talent
Q4 2024
-
Best Practices in Incentives Procurement
Q4 2024
-
NEW NIMBYism: A Threat to The U.S. Economy
Q4 2024
-
Five Strategies to Tackle the Data Center Talent Shortage
Q4 2024
-
Microsoft-Three Mile Island Deal Could Signal Path for Nuclear Power to Strengthen Partnerships with Big Tech
Q4 2024
-
Industries Look for Employees in Nontraditional Spaces Amid Labor Shortage
Q4 2024