Duke celebrates 100th anniversary with new name, headquarters in Greenville
April 5, 2017
Duke Brands to identify and grow customer service driven businesses
GREENVILLE, S.C. – One of Greenville’s oldest companies has a new name, look and location. Today, President and CEO Andrew Smart announced the official launch of Duke Brands, a private holding company that will operate out of two floors of the newly constructed Falls Park Place building in downtown Greenville.
Duke Brands’ portfolio currently includes Duke Foods, one of the top industrial food manufacturers of branded and private label products in the nation, and Duke Sandwich Company, a Greenville tradition since 1917. Moving forward, Smart says his team will focus on the acquisition of additional customer service driven businesses in a variety of industries. The company plans to announce at least two new business units this year.
“Our business was founded on a commitment to quality and attention to customer service that often seems forgotten in today’s world,” said Duke Brands President and CEO Andrew Smart. “As we look to further develop our company over the next 100 years, our focus and passion will be to identify and grow businesses that exemplify this standard of excellence. Starting today, Duke Brands is poised for a new age – one in which we’ll be judged not for what’s past but for what’s next. From food service and production, and beyond.”
A ribbon-cutting held today marked the official launch of Duke Brands in the company’s newly completed headquarters at 600 S. Main Street. Leaders also unveiled new brand identities for both Duke Foods (formerly Duke Food Productions) and Duke Sandwich Company, and celebrated the 100th anniversary of the company’s founding in downtown Greenville.
“Today we honor our company’s rich history while celebrating the evolution ahead,” said Chief Marketing Officer Chris Collins. “Duke Brands began with a simple desire to share delicious homemade sandwiches made with a special family mayonnaise recipe. We are proud to further that legacy today with products and services that will continue to connect people across a table, across miles and across generations.”
“We are excited to welcome Duke Brands back to Greenville,” said Greenville Mayor Knox White. “This family run business has been a part of the fabric of our city for 100 years. We look forward to seeing what its leaders have in store for the next 100.”
In 1917, Eugenia Duke started selling her signature spread sandwiches to local drug stores, textile mills and World War I soldiers stationed at Camp Sevier. Made with her family’s homemade mayonnaise recipe, the spreads were an instant hit, and in the spring of 1919, Eugenia Duke sold more than 10,000 sandwiches in one day. Her success led to the establishment of a manufacturing factory inside what’s known today as the Wyche Pavilion.
To honor Eugenia Duke and the example she set for female entrepreneurs, company and city leaders announced plans to establish a permanent memorial in downtown Greenville to share Eugenia’s inspirational story for generations to come.
“Eugenia Duke was a true pioneer, laying the foundation for a company that continues to thrive today at a time when she didn’t even have the right to vote,” said Smart. “We are excited to work with the City to preserve Eugenia’s place in Greenville’s history.”
“As a woman, I am honored to announce this partnership to recognize Eugenia Duke and her amazing story with a permanent memorial to be dedicated this year in downtown Greenville,” said Mayor Pro Tem Jil Littlejohn. “We look forward to making this vision a reality so that Eugenia’s contributions will be preserved to influence and inspire for generations to come.”
For more information, visit www.DukeBrands.com.
About Duke Brands
Based in Greenville, South Carolina, Duke Brands is a family owned and operated private holding company committed to building on its 100-year history of success in food service and production with a portfolio of brands dedicated to quality and attention to customer service long forgotten. Pride in the engagement of consumer interaction guides our focus and passion for finding and developing businesses that exemplify this standard. Duke Brands’ portfolio currently includes Duke Foods, one of the top industrial food manufacturers of branded and private label products in the nation, and Duke Sandwich Company, a Greenville tradition since 1917.
About Duke Foods
A culinary tradition since 1917, Duke Foods is one of the top industrial food manufacturers of branded and private label products in the Southeast. The company specializes in “homemade” quality foods such as dips, spreads and desserts, producing both bakery and ready-to-eat products from its single facility, which is level II Safe Quality Food Program certified.
Duke Foods’ rich heritage began 100 years ago, with one woman who made delicious sandwiches with a special family mayonnaise recipe. Today, that legacy endures with foods that continue to connect people across a table, across miles and across generations. The company’s products are truly Prepared to be Shared.
About Duke Sandwich Company
Since 1917, Duke Sandwich Company has been serving its distinctive spreads to families in the south. The popularity of Duke Spreads can be directly attributed to the company’s attention to detail and dedication to quality. Duke Sandwich Company’s mission has always been to use only the best ingredients, because quality ingredients create outstanding foods. Today, the company’s restaurants on Poinsett Highway and Congaree Road are known throughout the Upstate as the place to go for a delicious sandwich or slice of pound cake.
Duke Sandwich Company was founded by Eugenia Duke when she began selling her signature spread sandwiches to local drug stores, textile mills and World War I soldiers stationed at Camp Sevier. Made with her family’s homemade mayonnaise recipe, the spreads were an instant hit, and in the spring of 1919, Duke sold more than 10,000 sandwiches in one day. Her success led to the establishment of a manufacturing factory inside what’s known today as the Wyche Pavilion. While Eugenia Duke sold her original mayonnaise recipe to C.F. Sauer in 1929, her sandwich business continued to flourish in Greenville, eventually being taken over by the Smart family in 1964.
