E.W. Grobbel Sons Inc. in Detroit’s Eastern Market, a leader in producing corned beef and other quality meat products, has announced its agreement to acquire certain assets of Freirich Foods Inc. in Salisbury, N.C. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Founded by Julian Freirich in 1921 in Long Island, N.Y., the company built up a reputation for producing corned beef, pastrami, roast beef, and other deli meats through what it calls a “dry open oven roasted” system.
The company is a mainstay in the New York and New England regional markets, and claims more Freirich corned beef in the U.S. is eaten on St. Patrick’s Day than any other brand. The company sells its products to Eagle Giant, Price Chopper, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and other grocery chains.
But as the company geared up for St. Patrick’s Day in 2024, it lost an estimated $7 million in corned beef, some 1.2 million pounds, when a third-party cold storage facility failed to maintain proper temperatures.
According to FreightWaves, a provider of global supply chain market intelligence, Freirich filed for bankruptcy on “March 20 in the U.S. District Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, listing claims against Americold Logistics and insurers, arising from ‘spoliation of product due to lack of refrigeration.’”
Moving forward, production of Freirich’s products will transition to Grobbel’s operation in Detroit and St. Clair Shores. In January, Grobbel, founded in Detroit in 1883, acquired an approximately 90,0000-square-foot facility at 20643 Stephens St. in St. Clair Shores (near Little Mack Ave.)
The transition will begin immediately, and over the coming weeks, all customers, brokers, and stakeholders will be contacted to ensure a seamless integration into Grobbel’s systems.
Although operations will relocate, the products will remain. Freirich’s recipes, standards, and flavors will continue to honor its legacy, according to Grobbel.
Paul Bardinas, CEO of Freirich and a fourth generation of the founding family, will remain closely involved throughout the transition and beyond, providing guidance and ensuring that the brand remains true to its roots.
“This acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for both of our organizations,” says Jason Grobbel, president of E.W. Grobbel. “We are honored to carry forward the legacy of Freirich and look forward to continuing to provide the same exceptional products and service that customers have relied on for generations.”
For more information, visit ewgrobbel.com/.
