Kerr Pacific Corporation

Overview

Kerr Pacific Corporation is a private investment office of the Kerr family, now in its fourth generation. With a long history in grain-based foods and foodservice distribution, the family uses this knowledge to evaluate future opportunities. Their investments tend to remain value-based and are curated through both existing and new relationships. Preferences are for investments that are longer-term in nature and support strong human capital that creates above-average returns on invested capital. The Kerr family's involvement in the grain and flour milling industries spans four generations, beginning with Peter Kerr's arrival from Scotland in 1892 to export Pacific Northwest wheat around Cape Horn to Europe. Under Peter's leadership, Kerr Gifford & Company, Inc. grew into the largest grain exporter and merchandiser on the West Coast at the time of its sale to Cargill in 1953. Peter Kerr's nephew, Thomas (Tom) Kerr, founded Kerr Grain Company in 1954, later evolving into Kerr Pacific Corporation as the company's focus transitioned to flour milling and foodservice distribution. Through the continued leadership of Tom Kerr's stepson, Randy Labbe, Kerr Pacific continued its growth through the third generation. Kerr Pacific Corporation is now under its fourth-generation leadership of investing for the family, and they stay closely connected to the industries of food and agriculture. Kerr Pacific Corporation has a history of investments in companies such as HFM Foodservice, which grew to Hawaii's only state-wide broadline foodservice distributor with facilities on all major islands in the state. Their investment in Grain Craft was four generations in the making through their legacy milling business of Pendleton Flour Mills. Additionally, they have invested in a leading ingredient and retail branded foods business with great brands like Better Than Bouillon, The Original Louisiana Hot Sauce, and many others.