Imperial Sugar Is the Only Sweetener for Bama

The Bama Companies make several million pies and biscuits each week for McDonald’s and other quick serve restaurants – and they use Imperial Sugar in every one of them.

Tom Black, director of quality supplier conformance at Bama Companies in Tulsa, Ok, takes notes while Tom Wilson, Port Wentworth's technical service manager, and Christine Knezevich, Environmental, Health, Safety, Quality and Food Safety team leader at the plant, research information.

Tom Black, director of quality supplier conformance at Bama, recently made his first visit to Imperial Sugar Company’s Port Wentworth refinery near Savannah, Georgia. Black said his company was interested in the upgrades and improvements made at the facility and was there to make an assessment of its capabilities.

Not only did he find impressive equipment and processes, but he also found people who have a passion for making it all work for their customers. “In looking at other refineries, there’s a lot to be impressed with here,” said Black. “I’m impressed with the people here. They’re engaged and interactive. That’s a positive sign.”

Imperial has been a supplier to Bama for more than two decades, producing more than nine million pounds of sugar for the company last year. Bama buys granulated white sugar in 2,000- and 2,400-pound totes as well as 50-pound bags of granulated white sugar and brown sugar.

About four to eight percent of the ingredients for each Bama pie is comprised of Imperial Sugar. According to Black, sugar is the only sweetener that works.

Bama's pie line makes apple, cherry and pumpkin pies, in season, for McDonald's Restaurants worldwide, all using Imperial Sugar.

Black said his company was looking ahead and planning for the future, and that includes maintaining a strong relationship with Imperial.

“Bama is an excellent customer for Imperial,” said Bob Fleenor, regional sales manager for Imperial Sugar Company’s industrial division. “They work with us on ideas around the business process and how we can better support them. They give us strong viewpoints on how they see our internal processes and the improvements we can make. They’re a good partner.”

Bama – not to be confused with Bama Jelly – started in 1927 in the kitchen of Cornillia
Alabama “Bama” Marshall, who made pies for drugstores and grocery stores in the Texas-Oklahoma area. The business eventually opened a pie shop in Tulsa and started making pastries.

In 1965, Bama introduced the first hand-held fried apple pie to McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc and, two years later, became the single source supplier of pies to McDonald’s to this day.

Bama currently supplies products and services to customers in more than 117 countries using production facilities in the U.S. and abroad.