John Boos | Butcher Block, Cutting Board, Countertops and Stainless Steel Products

JOHN BOOS & COMPANY

John Boos & Co. is the leading manufacturer of butcher block and stainless steel gourmet and foodservice products in the U.S.A. JB&C is renowned for their famous Boos Blocks® and Cutting Boards. JB&C products are "Made in the U.S.A" of solid and quality North American hardwoods, and are the finest in quality, workmanship and design.

Since 1887!

How It All Started

John Boos & Company Circa 1899

John Boos & Co. based in Effingham, Illinois, is one of the oldest manufacturers of premium quality kitchen equipment and butcher blocks in the United States, and has been in business continuously since 1887. Founder Conrad Boos harvested Sycamore from wooded areas around Effingham, processed it at his sawmill, and then brought it to his blacksmith shop for finishing. The first innovation was a sycamore tree placed on three legs to absorb the shock of the smith’s hammer against the anvil. When the local butcher saw and admired the innovation, he realized that he could use one in his meat market. So Conrad’s son, John, adapted the idea and made him one. This was the start of John Boos & Company making butcher blocks for commercial meat markets over 120 years ago.

The Early Years...

Albert Gravenhorst

Adelbert Gravenhorst, a German immigrant and enterprising businessman saw the potential of this innovation and joined Conrad and John Boos in 1892 to incorporate John Boos & Company. He provided the investment needed for manufacturing the butcher block to meet the growing demand of commercial meat markets. This new product indeed proved practical in reducing the shock of a meat cleaver against smoke-cured meats. At this time, ownership and management passed to the Gravenhorst family, who now have been in the business continuously for 5 generations. It was during these early years that two pillars of the company's core values were established and still prevail today: commitment to making highest quality products with the highest level of know-how and workmanship. This know-how and workmanship runs deep in the community and has been passed down through generations.

During the 1920's, while America was "drying out" from prohibition, JB&C was busy drying and processing more lumber with extra buildings and kiln capacity to support the expansion and growth of the company. Up until the 1940s, JB&C was a leader in manufacturing the old-fashioned butcher block, and Boos Blocks® found their way into every restaurant, food store and butcher shop into America.

History Intervenes, JB&C Adapts…

A Block of History – The largest block ever produced at JB&C – Circa 1954 – 13 feet long.

Then WW II came and the company's values and manufacturing were put to the test. Demanding government contracts for the Granite City (Illinois) Ordinance Depot required JB&C to manufacture food service tables, worktables, and tabletops for the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine mess halls and kitchens. History intervened and JB&C proved its openness and ability to adapt to a new market reality. In the process, JB&C emerged with a new manufacturing philosophy, service culture, and expanded product lines. The third of the core value pillars took hold during this time and has been a key to its continued success: delivering superior customer value and service. By the mid 1950s the "Boos factory" once again needed to add more kilns, manufacturing, warehousing, shipping docks and office space to support growth.

Gaining Momentum as Leader and Brand of Choice…

It was also at this time that Boos butcher block tops grew out of the old fashioned Boos butcher block to meet the growing requirements and demand not only in the food service industry, but also in the residential market. Butcher block tops were laminated staves of namely North American hard rock maple but also Appalachian red oak. JB&C also first started supplying Williams–Sonoma, the premier specialty retailer of home furnishings and gourmet cookware in American when it first opened in California in 1956. Until this day Boos Blocks® kitchen furniture and products are a showcase in Williams-Sonoma stores around the USA, which have been instrumental over the years to help Boos Blocks® become the brand of choice for the finest kitchens in America.

The company continued to innovate during the late 1960s and early '70s to accommodate changing market requirements with the development and growth of its stainless steel table manufacturing for the supermarket equipment market. Stainless steel tables with either poly or synthetic tops, began to replace the butcher block as a necessary product in the majority of foodservice/supermarket establishments. The stainless steel group grew out of necessity and has since evolved to include an entire range of stainless steel products for the growing food service market.

For decades the government was tough on wood products and urged the food service industry to use plastic rather than wood cutting surfaces in the name of food safety, and for a time it was believed that plastic would replace wood. Dr. Dean Cliver, a PHD researcher at the University of Wisconsin in the 1990s, proved that wood was safer than plastic for food preparation, and the properties that first made plastic attractive motivated the return to wood as the most desirable cutting surface. Hard Maple remains the preferred hardwood for butcher blocks because it is resilient, durable, sanitary, knife-friendly, easily cleaned, and inhibits bacteria growth. JB&C also uses other hardwood species like Appalachian red oak, American cherry and American walnut in addition to North American hard rock maple.

As the Food Service industry in the USA follows strict guidelines and regulations, JB&C metal and wood products can be found listed with the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), the leader in sanitation agencies for approving equipment to be installed in foodservice and supermarket operations. The products must bear the NSF seal of approval to be accepted by the industry.

One outgrowth of JB&C's stainless steel plant and wood plant in the last years has been the combination of North American hardwood (North American hard rock maple, American cherry, and American walnut end or edge grain tops) and food service grade stainless steel to create a blend of commercial quality end-grain carts, display, and work tables. The product line received acceptance from professional, as well as domestic chefs throughout North America. The unique design of mixing the two materials has provided a competitive edge, as JB&C is the only company in the USA having both stainless steel and wood manufacturing facilities on location. Manufacturing begins and ends in Effingham, IL.

Ted Gravenhorst accepts the Gold Medal for Excellence award

JB&C has been awarded the Gold Medal for Excellence in Foodservice Equipment by the Chefs of America.

One of the most visible aspects of the success of the Boos Blocks® brand is its popularity with professional chefs throughout the USA. JB&C's commercial foodservice grade Boos Blocks® butcher blocks and cutting boards are being used by celebrity chefs throughout the nation. Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay, Paula Deen, Alton Brown, the Iron Chefs of Iron Chef America, Tyler Florence, Giada de Laurentiis, Mario Batali, and Emeril Lagasse are just a few chefs that rely on and use Boos Blocks®. "The Food Network" features chefs who prepare meals every day on Boos Blocks® cutting boards. In most cases Boos Blocks® cutting boards are used on the daily and weekly television programs sponsored for the chefs. Martha Stewart, Oprah's chef, Art Smith, and even the White House all have John Boos products in their kitchens as well.

Facilities

The company currently occupies approximately 150,000 sq.ft. of total production capacity in Effingham, IL and approximately 65,000 sq.ft. of manufacturing capacity in Suring, WI, which produces wooden school furniture. The company has four dry kilns that will dry up to 210,000 board feet of lumber on a continual basis. There are 160 employees in the Effingham facility. Most of the hardwoods used for manufacturing is shipped from Great Lakes states via truck, while our second largest commodity, stainless steel, comes from steel warehouses and distribution centers in Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis. The company currently is laying up about five million feet of North American hard rock maple and Appalachian red oak each year.

Going Green

JB&C is a leader in environmental initiatives and is firmly committed to managing environmental matters as an integral part of its business practice and uses renewable North American hardwood products. JB&C maintains a high standard in the treatment of the environment during our manufacturing process. For example, excess wood materials are recycled and used by farmers. JB&C is also recognized as an FSC, Forest Stewardship Council certified company. FSC is devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world's forests.

Most Recent Company Update

Joe Emmerich, President of John Boos & Co., says, "Visionary leaders have fostered JB&C success every step of the way and the changes in America's history are a built-in incentive for our company to be very open and flexible to the same degree of change".

As JB&C approaches its 125th year of continuous business, the company is the strongest it has ever been in its history, and its brand name, Boos Blocks®, signifies heritage and reputation for the finest product in its industry. The company is moving into a new factory later this year to support the continued vibrant growth and expansion domestically and internationally.