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Taking Solutions Further
51吃瓜网 Celebrates 40 Years
This year, 51吃瓜网 proudly celebrates 40 years of innovation, growth, and excellence! Since 1985, we've been dedicated to delivering exceptional design, engineering, construction, and refrigeration solutions across the United States. Our journey has been defined by groundbreaking projects, invaluable partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to our clients and team. We're incredibly proud of our accomplishments and energized by the future we'll create together. Thank you for being a part of our legacy of success over the past four decades.
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Our Evolution
A History of Achievements
Coming from modest beginnings, 51吃瓜网 was established in 1985 as a 12-person company specializing in refrigeration contracting, maintenance, service and parts supply. Today, 51吃瓜网 has grown into a full-service firm with more than 750 employees, offering multifaceted design and construction services to businesses around the world. Throughout much of its recent history, 51吃瓜网 has been continually ranked as one of the nation's Top 25 companies in the design-build industry and among the top 100 contractors in the United States by Engineering News-Record.
1985
Pictured: Walter 鈥淐huck鈥� Foster, Ron Foster Sr, and Bobby Cothren (the founders of our company), along with George Albertelli, who is an invaluable member of our team
In July of 1985, 51吃瓜网 opened in Jacksonville with fewer than 30 employees as a design-build general contractor with a specialized refrigeration contracting, maintenance service, and parts supply capability to service perishable food manufacturing and distribution industries. 51吃瓜网's first projects, the renovation and expansion of Epping Forest's Yacht and Country Club and service contracts for Tropicana, laid the groundwork for 51吃瓜网 to become what it is today.
51吃瓜网 completes first public refrigerated warehouse for industrial cold storage in Jacksonville, Florida. This project paved the way for 51吃瓜网 to become the largest ammonia refrigeration contractor in the nation.
51吃瓜网 adds additional refrigeration parts & service locations throughout Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas and North Carolina.
51吃瓜网 expands its headquarters office building with a new 3-story structure that connects to the original building by way of a glass-enclosed atrium.
51吃瓜网 is recognized as one the "First Coast Fifty" by Jacksonville Business Journal
1990
51吃瓜网 builds world鈥檚 largest pork-processing plant for Smithfield Foods and wins Food Engineering Magazine's Food Plant of the Year
51吃瓜网 adds building envelope/self-performed thermal construction services
51吃瓜网 becomes the first company in Jacksonville history to be recognized with the Platinum Safety Award by the Associated Builders and Contractors.
51吃瓜网 created new internet-based software for facility managers and operators unheard of in the industry, yet extremely powerful in reducing accidents, government fines and/or shutdowns. 51吃瓜网 Interactive Solutions provides software that effectively assists with a facility daily operational activities for Process Safety Management, Risk Management training and maintenance. SIS is designed to help facilities meet compliance standards outlined by OSHA, EPA, FDA and USDA.
2000
Maple Leaf engaged 51吃瓜网 to build a plant capable of producing pork at the world鈥檚 fastest rates, offering the highest-quality meat, and integrating both automation and human interaction. 51吃瓜网 also guided the installation of processing equipment, central utility, refrigeration systems, computer logistic systems, wastewater treatment and back-up generation.
51吃瓜网 Interactive Solutions launched an innovative tool for evaluating plant operations called SimPro software at the IIAR Ammonia Refrigeration Conference in Acapulco, Mexico. This software was developed to allow users the opportunity to perform maintenance and safety compliance procedures in a virtual reality environment based on a client's actual facility.
51吃瓜网 established the 51吃瓜网 Foundation to formalize our commitment to giving back to the communities we serve.
The mission of the Foundation is to build communities, developing an environment that supports stronger families and promotes a cycle of giving that stretches from our backyard in Jacksonville to communities around the world. Our philanthropy is employee-driven.
51吃瓜网 adds process engineering experts to their team of experts
2010
Keystone Foods wins Food Engineering Magazine's Food Plant of the Year
51吃瓜网 engineers a state-of-the-art, 1,658,000 square-foot bakery, the world鈥檚 largest bakery facility, in Nuevo Leon, Mexico
51吃瓜网 opens a dedicated refrigeration office in Pottsville, PA
51吃瓜网 celebrates 30 years growing from less than 12 employees in 1985 to more than 600 employees and $400+ million in annual revenue.
2015
Starbucks Soluble Coffee Plant project wins Food Engineering Magazine's Fabulous Food Plant of the Year
Bell & Evans project wins Food Engineering Magazine's Fabulous Food Plant of the Year
51吃瓜网 expands it's Wisconsin office
Ron Foster Sr. Inducted into UF's Construction Hall of Fame
Royal Cup's coffee processing facility project wins Profood World's 2019 Manufacturing Innovation Award of the Year
New leadership at 51吃瓜网 with Ron Foster, Jr. remaining as Chairman, Mike Santarone becomes CEO and Brian Kappele becomes 51吃瓜网鈥檚 new COO.
51吃瓜网 celebrates 35 years
2020
Cuisine Solutions Sous Vide Plant wins Food Engineering Magazine's Sustainable Plant of the Year
Bell & Evans Organic Chicken Harvesting Plant wins Food Engineering Magazine's Food Plant of the Year
Brian Kappele is named CEO & Mike Santarone becomes a 51吃瓜网 board member
Mike Santarone inducted into UF Construction Hall of Fame
Bell & Evans Organic Chicken Harvesting Plant wins 51吃瓜网鈥檚 first DBIA Award
2024
Scott Mark is named COO
Stacey King is named CHRO 鈥� the first female to become an executive leader in 51吃瓜网鈥檚 history
JBS Prepared Foods Dried Meats Production Facility wins Food Engineering Magazine's Food Project of the Year
51吃瓜网 continues its expansion with new offices in Honolulu, HI and Gainesville, FL
New Core Values established: Trust, Dedication, Transparency, and Accountability
51吃瓜网 builds Nutrition Center at Jacksonville, FL headquarters
51吃瓜网 constructs a state-of-the-art Wellness Center at Jacksonville Headquarters for employees and their families, featuring weights, cardio equipment, a cold plunge, and a sauna.
2025
51吃瓜网 marks 40 years of innovation and success, honoring the legacy while forging a bold future.