Established 1869
Owners Howard and
Becky Glover
A Chattanooga tradition when it comes to jewelry, bridal needs, and fine household items, Fischer-Evans Jewelers is currently celebrating 140 years in business. Owners Howard and Becky Glover have operated the store at Eighth and Market Streets since 1970.
Founded shortly after the Civil War by entrepreneur Will Fischer, the store occupied several locations during its earlier years. Will’s brother, Lou, joined the enterprise in 1869, which is recognized officially as the company’s first year in business.
“Our customers have been very loyal through the years,” comments Becky Glover. “We have leather ledgers that go back three and four generations with the same families, and some of these families are descendants of people who actually knew the Fischers. For many of the families that trade with Fischer-Evans, it has become a tradition, and we appreciate referrals from our customers. There is no better advertising than word of mouth.”
T.H. McClure followed the Fischers as owner, and the store was subsequently run by McClure’s daughter, Baird, and Nick Senter, a cousin. In 1963, Carter Evans, who had acquired the store seven years earlier, changed the name to Fischer-Evans. When the Glovers bought Fischer-Evans, they expanded its offerings to include numerous lines which were complementary to the core jewelry sales.
“It was a small, narrow store all on one floor,” remembers Mrs. Glover. “We combined three buildings and made the first floor all jewelry with the second floor divided into areas for things like china, crystal, silver, and a stationery department. We have a selection which also includes fine linens from France and Portugal, and our employees are knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile for the customer. We still offer free gift wrapping and delivery to all local brides, and if the customer can’t come into the store, we will run a package out to their car. Customer loyalty is a key ingredient along with product knowledge and selection.”
Chattem
Established 1879
Chairman and CEO
Zan Guerry
The poetry of Rudyard Kipling has helped guide health and beauty aids manufacturer Chattem for decades. The business, which began as The Chattanooga Medicine Company in 1879, has formulated and carried out a business model which has driven decades of success.
“Around here we use four or five phrases quite a lot,” relates CEO Zan Guerry. “One of those is, ‘If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you … .’ We have been blessed with an outstanding board of directors - one that doesn’t panic. We don’t get ourselves into a hole and keep digging. We don’t overreact, and we have had to make tough decisions over the years with the help of a loyal employee base.”
Guerry says that Chattem has prospered via a simple business model, participating in the market as a second-tier manufacturer, and not going head-to-head with giants such as Johnson & Johnson or Procter & Gamble.
“Some call us a leader in small to medium markets,” says Guerry, “and we stay in markets where we can be one of the leaders. We ask ourselves whether we belong in certain markets and whether we can compete in those markets, and that business model has been effective for us. I see a very bright future for our biggest brands. Gold Bond has grown dramatically and was our first $100 million brand. It has three line extensions planned this year and three next year. ACT mouthwash is growing rapidly, and Icy Hot has been phenomenal, coming out of nowhere to the top in the topical pain category. So, we are experiencing a lot more internal growth right now than we ever have before, and that growth will continue for several more years.
“To have a good business model, you have got to have talented people,” he continues, “and we have had the ability to attract them. They like to go where they make a difference and can see their impact. This is a very enjoyable place to work.”
Chattem is continually on the lookout for acquisitions, and the expectation is that $100 million to $200 million in acquisitions may be made in the next five years. Current annual sales are approximately $500 million, with growth to $750 million during the same time frame a real possibility.
Chattanooga Coca-Cola Bottling Company
Established 1899
Division Vice President
Gary Davis
Perhaps no other brand in the world resonates with such strength as Coca-Cola. Founded in 1899, the Chattanooga Bottling Company has a rich heritage with the Chattanooga area. Recognizing the area’s long history with the soft drink icon, Gary Davis heads the local operation of Chattanooga Coca-Cola Bottling Company and adheres to four core values. They are: integrity, the foundation of all enduring relationships and every successful business; respect, to associates and colleagues, owners, the consumer and customers; quality, not compromising standards or taking shortcuts; and excellence, always working to exceed expectations.
“Coca-Cola is a simple product,” remarks Davis. “It seems to survive in any business climate only because it has delivered the same consistent taste and refreshment for years. It is, and has always been, affordable and can be enjoyed by royalty or the average man or woman. Because it provides refreshment first, people can always find time to enjoy a cold bottle of Coke. As one might travel, you can find and recognize the familiar bottle or logo for Coca-Cola, regardless of the country or area. Coca-Cola contains the same quality, taste, and enjoyment anywhere it is sold. It has become a trusted friend to many.”
Davis sees today’s consumers as dynamic, and while Coca-Cola has a bright future, the company must be responsive to the changing needs and desires of society. The primary challenge ahead is to remain connected to the consumer.
“We will continue to meet the needs of consumers who are conscious of their health, the environment and overall quality,” Davis adds. “In 1938, Pulitzer Prize winner and esteemed American journalist William Allen White said, ‘Coca-Cola is a sublimated essence of all that America stands for … a decent thing honestly made.’ ”
Chattanooga Bakery, Inc.
Established 1902
President Sam Campbell IV
The MoonPie is a Chattanooga original, and the company which produces it, Chattanooga Bakery, Inc., is as well. Staying the course with a tried-and-true product has meant success for more than a century.
“MoonPie is all we manufacture,” explains President Sam Campbell. “We do some under different labels for different customers, but the MoonPie label is our linchpin. More and more small bakeries have been bought over the last 20 years, but the brand has been around a long time, and it is key for us. We are still an independent bakery, and we like what we do.”
Chattanooga Bakery employs about 150 people at its 12-acre manufacturing site, carrying on the tradition established in 1902. The Campbell family has been involved in the operation since day one: the president’s brother, John Campbell, is vice president of sales; Sam’s daughter Elizabeth recently joined the company as general manager of Betsy’s Cheese Straws, a subsidiary acquired in 2008; and Sam Campbell III serves as chairman.
“We are no different from any other industry today,” notes Sam Campbell. “We are looking for economies of scale. I think opportunities will continue to show up for us to be able to diversify, and ten years from now we want to continue to be family-owned, but to diversify in ways to develop other products. We are gratified with the wonderful publicity MoonPie generates and extremely humbled to be able to carry this thing on.”
Double-Cola Co.
Established 1922
President Alnoor Dhanani
Now a subsidiary of K.J. International Inc. of London, England, Double-Cola began operations in Chattanooga in 1922 as the Good Grape Company. Its founders were Charles D. Little and Joe S. Foster.
Today, the soft drink company’s reach is global, with strong international brand recognition for its Double-Cola, Jumbo, Double Dry Ginger Ale and Ski lines. “The Double-Cola brand started in 1933, but in various incarnations the company has been around since the 1920s,” explains President Alnoor Dhanani. “So, there is quite a bit of history, and over time new products have come along. My family has owned the company since 1981.”
Dhanani stresses that the last 10 years have been strong for Double-Cola and points to several contributing factors. “So many elements are always important: the right product, the right quality, the right personnel,” he says. “We look at things from a 360-degree angle. Every single spoke in the wheel is important for the company and its long-term survival. We are optimistic with the U.S. market and with existing products, but also, there will be new products rolling out over time. Some are in various stages of development and will be targeting specific customers.”
One of the major components of Double-Cola’s growth is its international popularity. “I dare say that the last decade has been pretty good for us, and we are working very hard,” comments Dhanani. “We have very good employees and good customers that make things easy to run. As a matter of strategy, we decided early on that we had to go overseas and branch out because the industry here is dominated by a couple of players. That is what has really worked best for us. I would say we are strongest in terms of volume or sales in Bangladesh and that we have a belt that goes eastward into the Middle East and North Africa.”
Dhanani was born in Africa and cites the company’s familiarity with the people and the culture as facilitating the growth of Double-Cola in these markets. Overseas consumers respond favorably to U.S. products, he says, and the company maintains strong pockets of sales in the United States, as well.
Lawson Electric
Established 1925
President Ryan Crimmins
The company’s slogan sums it up. “Growing with Chattanooga since 1925,” is the mantra at Lawson Electric, and Ryan Crimmins, a part of the company since 1992 and president since 1996, sees an unwavering commitment to the future of the community.
“We have been on a two-decade double digit growth model around here, and in the future we will continue to grow with Chattanooga and the surrounding market, which has always been our core strategy,” says Crimmins. “We have always considered ourselves to be part of our customers’ teams, and if we are helping them be successful then we think we can be successful over the long haul, offering electrical engineering services, bringing quick, effective solutions to problems, keeping projects moving, and providing solutions that work in the best interests of our customers.”
Another essential element of the continuing success at Lawson Electric is strong corporate citizenship and an emphasis on excellence. “Our overall company philosophy includes three main ingredients,” continues Crimmins. “Treat others like you want to be treated, provide resources to help others be successful, and provide an environment where employees feel part of something bigger than just a job. In economic times like these, you have to focus on your strengths and treat every customer like it was your last customer and know that whether it is a small service call or a multi-million dollar inquiry, one can lead to the other and round out your business model.”
The people at Lawson Electric are committed to the quality of life in the Chattanooga area and support numerous local organizations and events, such as the United Way, the Tennessee Aquarium, Finley Stadium, and many public and private philanthropic initiatives. “One of the reasons I came to Lawson Electric was the company’s philosophy of giving back to the community,” concludes Crimmins. “We are not looking for notoriety, but in small and quiet ways we want try to work with people and support these efforts.”
Southern Champion Tray
Established 1927
President and CEO
John Zeiser
Manufacturing paperboard, boxes, trays and other items for use by the food industry, Southern Champion Tray employs approximately 500 people in its Chattanooga and Mansfield, Texas, operations. Founded in 1927, the company is led by its third generation of the Zeiser family, and Chairman Chuck Zeiser has been a part of SCT for 50 years.
No stranger to challenging times, Southern Champion Tray has shown resilience during previous economic downturns. The company continues to operate successfully by “sticking to core principles, regardless of the circumstances,” according to President and CEO John Zeiser. “The principles that have been steady through 82 years of SCT’s existence are: reinvest the profits – grow the business rather than grow the owners’ lifestyles; stay focused on the customer – reliability is what customers really want – no headaches or surprises. We try to do what we say we will do, and do it consistently; control the inputs that matter most – we have a do-it-yourself mentality and we are pretty focused on details as a group; practice conservative financial management – we keep debt to a manageable amount and watch the cash conversion cycle closely.”
According to John Zeiser, shared values are the key to the longevity of SCT. He says biblical principles are the foundation of the company’s core values; the Bible defines everything necessary for relationships and stewardship, how to live, how to work, and how to manage. The company’s commitment to their work force is apparent by its investment in scholarships, marriage seminars, classes in handling money, free confidential counseling services, use of an on-site wellness center and racquetball court, and access to an on-site health clinic.
Adversity has served to make SCT a stronger company in the past. “We lost 50 percent of our business overnight in the late 1960s,” says John. “We went through a union organization around the same time, and a subsequent strike. I credit my father with believing strongly enough in the core principles to stick to his beliefs, even in the tough times. In the current economic climate, we are working hard on controlling costs, examining every dollar spent, eliminating overtime, and doing our best to maintain full employment through this downturn. I see our prospects as favorable, as long as we stay the course on the core values.”
The Krystal Company
Established 1932
President and CEO Fred Exum, Jr.
The little square burger is a fast food icon, and since the first Krystal location opened in Chattanooga in 1932, the company has offered good food at an affordable price.
“The key to Krystal’s success for more than 76 years has been our commitment to the guest experience and our focus on offering one-of-a-kind menu items people simply can’t get anywhere else,” says Krystal President and CEO Fred Exum. “Our continuing success is driven by our focus on improving operations at all levels while introducing exciting new product offerings that both complement our core menu items and deliver an exceptional value – not just in price, but also in quality.”
In the past, Exum says, Krystal has focused on value, driven by price alone. However, the company has concentrated recently on two identified components of value: quality and price. Bringing a quality image to the Krystal brand has been a strong initiative in recent years, including the introduction of the Big Angus Burger, which features all-Angus beef and premium toppings, and MilkQuake shakes, which use real ice cream.
“Quality is driving our business right now,” says Exum, “and that doesn’t just stop with the food we offer, but also extends to our operations. Because a guest judges his or her experience by the interaction with a cashier, we started with our master cashier’s program. Additionally, in the last few years table service was added to many of our dining rooms. We’ll continue to lead the industry in both innovation and quality product offerings. Krystal has certainly seen the best and worst of economic times during the nearly eight decades we have been in business, and we have always managed to pull through by giving people what they want - great tasting food at a great price. Even when times are rough, our guests find comfort in the food we offer.”
McKee Foods Corporation
Established 1934
President and CEO
Mike McKee
Founded in 1934 by O.D. and Ruth McKee, the McKee Foods Corp. is also known by a more familiar name: Little Debbie. With estimated sales of $1.1 billion and approximately 6,000 employees, the company is now in its third generation of management, including CEO and President Mike McKee, his brother Chris, cousins Rusty McKee and Debbie McKee-Fowler, and uncle Ellsworth McKee, who serves as chairman of the board.
The Little Debbie snack cake is recognized far and wide as a preferred brand. “The food industry is not a bad place to be long term,” says Mike McKee, “and we don’t tend to see the extreme ups and downs of the market. We are primarily a domestic company in an industry that is mature, so future growth is tied to population growth. We do see some areas to grow within certain categories, however. So we are seeking opportunities to grow market share versus geographic expansion. I think we are among the best in the business among the national brands of sweet baked snacks, and our consumers know Little Debbie and Sunbelt products are not just great-tasting snacks, but also a good value for the family dollar. My vision today is to continue to build on our success and strive to be the best at what we do. I think we’re doing that well.”
Several factors have influenced the continuing success of McKee Foods. Those factors include a solid business foundation built by previous generations who applied a conservative fiscal outlook and an appropriate level of risk-taking with an attitude of stewardship toward the company and its work force.
“We have grown a culture of respect and responsibility where our employees know they can thrive,” McKee says. “Everything comes back to the common thread of the human factor. If we can create quality, both internally and externally, we can be successful. It starts with quality employment, where employee satisfaction and teamwork are our primary goals. This leads to quality products, where our customers and our consumers know that every snack will be delicious and a good value for their family. We also recognize the role of Providence in all we do, and we feel there is divine blessing on our business.”
Brody Jewelers
Established 1937
Owners Louis Brody,
Cindy Brody Sirota,
and Michael Brody
Brody Jewelers has been a fixture in the Rossville area for more than 70 years and is the oldest existing retailer in that city. Operated by family members for four generations, the store’s reputation for unique estate pieces is second to none, and Louis Brody, who currently owns the store with sister Cindy Brody Sirota and brother Michael Brody, says the generational connection has made all the difference.
“I think it is being all family,” said Louis. “People know that when they call they are going to get a family member on the phone, and they know they are not dealing with some salesman on commission. I believe they like that feeling of being at home. I keep coming back to simplicity. Knock on the back door, and we’ll let you in.”
Brody Jewelers was founded in 1937 as a pawn shop by Louis I. and Lillian Brody, Louis’s grandparents. In the 1960s, his parents, Ed and Helen Brody, moved two doors down and refocused the business on jewelry. Since then, referrals from satisfied customers have sustained Brody Jewelers during both good and bad times, and Louis recently sold a diamond engagement ring over the telephone to an individual in Dallas, Texas.
Although a remodeling project is planned sometime during the next year, Louis pledges that it, too, will remain functional and simple. “We will have new showcases, new wall units, and general updating of the store – nothing fancy,” he commented. “We have been told that people like the simplicity of our store, where they don’t feel like they are walking in and paying for chandeliers and fixtures. We haven’t really changed anything in the way we do business. It is referrals that have kept us alive, and we thank Chattanooga and the surrounding area for keeping us in business all these years.”
Kenco Group
Established 1950
President and CEO
Jim Kennedy, III
The Kenco Group has developed strength in a diverse array of services since the company was founded in 1950. Its core competencies consist of not only logistic services, but also transportation, real estate management and material handling equipment. The family of companies includes Kenco Logistic Services, Kenco Transportation Services, Kenco Toyota-Lift, Kenco Management Services and JDK Real Estate.
“This is a very exciting time for Chattanooga,” notes President and CEO Jim Kennedy III. “We feel the new Volkswagen plant will bring many new opportunities to our community. We are anxious for the chance to serve VW and its vendors.”
As for its continuing success, Kenco has seen revenues grow to $400 million and its payroll expand to 4,000 employees since the company’s inception more than half a century ago. Major components of the management philosophy are straightforward.
“First of all,” says Kennedy, “our people are the key part of what makes Kenco’s performance unmatched in the industry. Secondly, our vision of operational excellence, which leverages our most valued asset - our people - by bringing them together with the right processes and systems to ensure the highest level of execution possible for our customers, has a lot to do with our success.”