Phillips Foods

A Chesapeake Bay Beginning: From Family Business to a Legacy

Phillips Foods is a famous seafood brand in the United States, a family-operated company with a history spanning over 100 years. The success story began in 1914 when Augustus E. Phillips established the first crab meat packing plant on Hoopers Island in the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, a region known for its abundant crab population.

In the early days, Augustus and his wife worked tirelessly to select and process the crabs caught by local fishermen. They sold both fresh crabs and picked crab meat to nearby restaurants and markets. Their commitment and dedication to quality allowed their small business to grow steadily, earning a loyal customer base who returned for the freshness and superior quality of their crab meat.

Expansion into Restaurants: The Birth of Phillips Seafood Restaurants

Four decades later, in 1956, Augustus's son Brice Phillips and his wife took over the business and expanded into the restaurant industry, specializing in crab dishes. Seeing that they had more crabs than other local restaurants could buy, the couple decided to open a "crab shack" on the beach in Ocean City, Maryland. It quickly became a sensation.

With its friendly atmosphere, fresh seafood, and unique recipes, especially the signature crab menu, the restaurant became the origin of the now-famous Phillips Seafood Restaurants franchise. It expanded to accommodate up to 1,400 customers and became a top destination for seafood lovers on the East Coast.

Expanding Production Globally: A Commitment to Consistency

Phillips Foods didn't stop at the restaurant business; it also developed into the production and distribution of a wide variety of seafood, with "crab meat" as its signature product. Initially, the company sourced crabs from the Chesapeake Bay. However, facing challenges with the U.S. crab supply and seasonal availability, Phillips Foods strategically expanded its production base to the abundant crab regions of Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and India. This move ensured that consumers could receive high-quality crab meat consistently throughout the year.

One of Phillips Foods' flagship products exported globally is Phillips Crab Meat, which comes in several types, including Jumbo Lump, Lump, Flake, Claw, and Special. Each type is suited for different culinary applications.

The Heart of Success: Quality, Sustainability, and Innovation

The continuous success of Phillips Foods is rooted in its unwavering commitment to quality, integrity towards customers, and love for the sea. A key part of this is their stringent factory quality control and a traceable process at every production step.

Phillips Foods is also a pioneer in seafood sustainability. The company supports ecosystem projects in Maryland and prioritizes sustainably harvested ingredients whenever possible. Additionally, they are continuously committed to innovation, investing in research and development to create new products that meet modern consumer needs, such as ready-to-eat seafood and easy-to-cook items like Crab Mix Blends (pre-seasoned crab meat), crab soups, and more.

Over a century, Phillips Foods has proven its strength and adaptability in a rapidly changing business world. From Augustus's small crab packing business, it has grown into a renowned global seafood company. Today, Phillips Foods remains a family-run business, now in its third and fourth generations, with its headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland, and a global presence of 13 factories.