Durkee History  |  Durkee Today  |  Product Advantages  |  What's New  |  Research & Development


Durkee History







1850
Eugene Durkee Founded Durkee Spices in Buffalo, New York.
1873
Jehiel and I.E. Tone founded Tone Brothers as a coffee and spice company in Des Moines, Iowa
1888
First to offer consumer sized packaging and pure ground pepper.
1907
Durkee helped establish the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA).
1918
First to introduce cans for spices, replacing paperboard cartons.
1982
Pioneered freeze-ground milling and introduced plastic packaging with tamper-evident seals.
1994
Purchased by Burns Philp of Sydney, Australia, bringing greater global presence and brands like Spice Islands and Durkee.
1995
Tone Brothers, Inc., built the world's largest herb and spice production and distribution center.
1996-1998
Burns Philp consolidated all of its North American herb and spice operations to the Tone Brothers, Inc., facility in Ankeny, Iowa.
2005
Associated British Foods plc purchased Tone Brothers, Inc., and began operations under management by ACH Food Companies, Inc., of the Durkee spices and seasonings brand.
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Durkee Today



Dedication to Product Fulfillment
Durkee products are manufactured in one of the largest spice plants in world, in more than 768,000 square feet on more than 60 acres of land in Ankeny, Iowa.

American Heartland
Centrally located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 80

R&D Quality Assurance
20,000 square feet devoted to your menu development.

Quality Control Laboratories
For physical, chemical, biological and organoleptic assessments of raw materials and finished goods.

Research and Pilot Production Laboratory
To support new product development with respect to Recipes, Applications and Entrée Develoment.

And More
Full Test Kitchen, Product Development and Sensory Laboratories Presentation Kitchen for Customer Demonstrations and Training.

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Product Advantages



High Quality First
Durkee finds the highest-quality spices from around the world through its global spice partners. By starting with a higher-quality product, we are sure to produce the best flavor, smell and appearance available in today's spice market.

Premium Freshness
Durkee's unique Cool Head Milling process locks in the flavor and aroma. Our flavor and aroma (heart of the product) are sealed in, protecting product integrity and quality.

Instant Brand Awareness
Studies show some 90% of customers recognize the Durkee brand nationwide.

Consistency And Availability
Durkee's consistent quality products mean menu consistency and year-round availability, giving you unlimited menu creativity.

Packaging

  • Clear packaging designed for easy and efficient use, with convenient slip-guard side grips and a shake / pour cap
  • Unique tri-laminate sealed packaging preserves flavor and keeps spices as fresh as the day they were packaged
  • Easy-to-read, full bilingual labels (English and Spanish)
  • Complete nutritional panels on every product
  • Natural cap orientation - ergonomically designed to help reduce wrist joint and tendon fatigue.

Product Quality

  • The essence of each ground spice - the volatile oil - is captured and preserved during the Cool Head Milling process at temperatures as low as -120°F
  • HACCP Program in Place
  • Metal Detection or Magnets on Each Line
  • Versatility and variety
  • From core spices and seasonings to value-added blends
  • World-Wide Sourcing - Our comprehensive global sourcing is augmented by sister companies in India and Indonesia.
  • Vendor Certification Program
  • Inspection and approval of domestic international vendors
  • Performance monitored and reported back to vendors
  • Global Sourcing / Quality at the Source
  • Active Member of American Spice Trade Association (ASTA)
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What's New

The world is shrinking. And our palates are growing. With our increased interest in cooking, numerous magazines, and entire TV food network . . . America, now more than ever, is discovering, learning and yearning for dishes with a Latin American flair. Today's baby boomers, 78 million strong, are the most culinary-literate and food ­active generation in history. And their children are even more adventurous and accepting of new ideas and flavors.

Consumption of Latin American food is on the rise, currently growing at a 5% annual pace . . . twice the rate of general foodservice sales.

According to the NRA, two categories that show great appeal for today's diners are "Festive Foods" (including Mexican and Caribbean fare) and "Innovative/Trendy Foods" (including Spanish & Latin cuisine).

"Menu mentions" have climbed steadily for Mexican-influenced dishes. Caribbean food "menu mentions" have jumped dramatically.

From quick casual outlets to the most prestigious restaurants, operators are finding that satisfying America's appetite for Latin flavors is good business. And now, it's easier than ever. For just pennies per serving, you can expand your menu by adding Latin flavors . . . creating exciting, on-trend dishes . . . with bold margins!

Add excitement to current dishes. Expand your menu with new recipes. Create intrigue. Dazzle patrons. Build your repeat sales! You can make it happen -- with the enthusiastic help of Durkee.

Like you, we want to deliver our best, every time. From Latin flavors to menu ideas to service and support . . . we're eager to share our very best with you. Right now.

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Research & Development




The Quality, Research and Development department is comprised of 25 full-time professional and support personnel.

The Quality Control team uses physical and organoleptic testing to inspect incoming raw materials, finished goods and co-packed products; develops and coordinates the HACCP program; conducts bimonthly internal sanitation audits; and develops recall procedures.

The Research team develops the vendor certification program, which includes new ingredient/vendor approval and non-conformance notification, conducts real time and accelerated shelf life tests, and conducts competitive evaluations. They also develop analytical and microbiological testing methods that are used on raw materials and finished goods.

The Product Development team formulates all of the packaged goods and custom blends, conducts sensory evaluation to be used during development of new products as well as for purchasing, research and marketing. They house the test kitchens for recipe development and application testing, and handle all of the Spice Advice 800# call center inquiries.

Other functions in the Quality Research and Development department include Specification Development and Regulatory Affairs. Specifications are developed for all raw materials, WIP and finished goods. Regulatory compliance is strictly adhered to on all of our ingredient statements and the nutritional analysis conducted on our products.

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