This year, we celebrate the 20-year anniversary since the founding of Bunzl Processor Division. Two decades ago, Bunzl Distribution and Koch Supplies and Packers Engineering joined forces to establish the powerhouse supplier in food processing that is known today as Bunzl Processor Division. In celebration of this milestone, we would like to recognize the history of Koch Supplies – one the of the oldest names in the butcher supply industry, and how its humble beginnings developed into the industry leader that exists today.

Koch Butcher Supply Company was founded in 1883 in Kansas City, MO. The company got its start as a refrigeration factory, used exclusively for the manufacture of Butchers’ Refrigerators and Complete Market Outfits. Koch continued to build its support for the meat processing industry, expanding inventory to include knives and cutlery, butchers’ jackets, safety gear, aprons, cleaning supplies, market accessories and more. In 1949, Koch split into two companies: a Refrigerator Division known as Hobart Corporation, and Koch Butcher Supply, where the catalog division that many of our customers know today was born.

Over the next 50 years, Koch strove for innovation in the food processing industry, developing equipment including Vacuum Packaging and Smokehouses, and expanding supplies such as Vacuum Pouches (converted in house!), Band Saw Blades and other items seen in the always growing Buyer’s Guide Catalog. 

In 2001, Koch Supplies, as well as Packers Engineering, became a part of Bunzl Processor Division – a prominent name in the food processing and food packaging industries. Through this partnership, BPD has grown to be a leader in the meat processing, food processing and food packaging industries that services national platforms as well as multi-plant, single-plant, small shops and game processors. While our focus has traditionally been towards plant operation supplies for the food and meat processing industry, many of the products we carry are ideal for almost any business!

Koch Supplies continues to operate today supporting small processing plants and operations. The name can even be found on the side of our Riverside, MO warehouse as well as in the BPD logo! We take great pride in Koch Supplies’ renowned past of serving generations of customers for over 135 years, and look forward to continuing the tradition in the years to come.