December 4, 2008 (Thomasville, GA) – Thomasville-based B. Lloyd's, a premium nut company, has announced a multi-year partnership with celebrity cook, Paula Deen. The announcement comes on the heels of B. Lloyd's newest product launch of glazed nut salad toppers and ice cream toppers, and the products' extraordinary success.
In less than seven years, the 79-year-old company has grown from a catalog gift company with five employees to a national product retailer, employing more than 50 people in their Thomasville plant. By March 2009 B. Lloyd's expects that their All Natural Glazed and Roasted Nut Salad Toppers, and Premium Nut Ice Cream Toppers will be in more than 10,000 stores throughout the country, including Wal-Mart, Safeway, and Stop and Shop.
"We introduced these nuts to Ms. Deen a few months ago and she immediately saw their potential," said Heeth Varnedoe IV, co-owner of B. Lloyd's. "We're thrilled for the opportunity to work with her and introduce B. Lloyd's to folks all over America."
"I'm so excited to have found this wonderful company practically in my backyard," said Ms. Deen. "As soon as I tasted these glazed nuts, I couldn't put them down. They are wonderful by themselves just as a snack, and then I started thinking how much potential they have for all kinds of recipes, too. It's no wonder that this company is growing so fast!"
Varnedoe, a Thomasville native, and B. Lloyd's co-owner Douglas R. Wedding, from St. Petersburg, Florida, purchased the company in 2002 from the Woodall family of Barnesville, Georgia. Mr. B. Lloyd Woodall, Jr.'s father was the company namesake.
Since then, Varnedoe and Wedding have expanded production and introduced new products, ultimately increasing revenue eight-fold from their 2002 level. They expect to increase revenue another five-fold and double their workforce during 2009 as they gain wider distribution.
The company's phenomenal growth will also require a larger manufacturing plant; Varnedoe and Wedding are currently searching for that location, which will be in the Thomasville area.
Consumers in Thomasville and across the United States can expect to see B. Lloyd's newest packaging and advertisements featuring Paula Deen on their All Natural Glazed and Roasted Nut Salad Toppers, and Premium Nut Ice Cream Toppers beginning in March 2009.
The first B. Lloyd's pecan trees were planted in 1905, but it wasn't until 1930 that the first B. Lloyd's storefront opened in Barnesville, Georgia. In 1990 the company closed all brick -and-mortar operations and became a strictly mail-order nut company. It is known across the United States for offering super-premium nuts and nut products, confections and corporate gifts. As a result of its long history, B. Lloyd's combines technology with time-tested techniques to deliver the finest, highest quality nuts available on the market today.
####
