Redstone Foods, Inc., a Carrollton, Texas-based wholesaler, celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.
Founded by Herman and Helen Rothstein in 1966, Redstone had humble beginnings. Herman, a specialty food salesman and an owner of distribution centers in Cleveland and Los Angeles, launched the company by working out of his car. Redstone now has a 75,000-sq.-ft. distribution center with more than 50 employees.
Three generations of the Rothstein family have worked at Redstone since 1966. In 1970, Herman Rothstein began teaching his son, Stan, the family business by having him sell candy to their customers. Stan, now president, and his wife, Marilyn, are teaching sons Josh, Neal and Daniel the ropes.
Since its founding, Redstone has become the largest wholesaler in the southwestern United States. The company offers more than 6,000 nostalgia and specialty candy products and 250 craft sodas. Redstone was also the first distributor to bring certain products to the Southwest, including Swiss chocolates, Haribo gummi candy and Almond Roca.
“Nostalgia candy is a focal point of our business because it brings back memories of an adult’s childhood that can be shared with their children today,” Stan Rothstein says.
The Redstone sales team aims to maintain a relationship with vendors and customers, making suggestions to customers based on their needs and encouraging them to try new product trends.
“The key is listening to our customers,” says Josh Rothstein, v.p. of purchasing and sales.
A main priority at Redstone is customer satisfaction. Stores are kept fully stocked and delivered orders are double-checked. Redstone ships its orders within 24 to 48 hours of order placement and shipping costs are kept to a minimum. Customers can enjoy low minimum order costs, cold packs used for perishable products at no cost and free freight on qualifying orders.
“We renegotiate our shipping rates regularly with the freight lines to ensure that we can pass savings onto our customers,” says Neal Rothstein, v.p. of operations.
The Rothstein family remains dedicated to customer service and providing quality products to the confectionery industry with the same values the company was built on 50 years ago.
