Douglas Kantner had spent nine years
learning the food ingredients business
with his employer before he decided there
was a better way to do it and left to found
Kantner Ingredients, a supplier of food
ingredients to the food industry
Relying on his industry experience, Kantner
knew that while brand names were important,
relationships with people were even more
important. The founder, president and CEO
capitalized on his strong ties with vendors and
purchasers to begin distributing powders
imported from Europe and arranged exclusive distribution contracts with many of the
companies he’d worked with previously. To
improve the business by integrating vertically,
he opened his first plant in Wapakoneta, Ohio,
whereproducepowdersweremixedtocreate
nutrition supplements and dairy products to
be sold in the region.
But he didn’t stop there. Kantner believes
that in business, you are either growing or
dying, so he began acquiring other companies to strengthen his company’s selection of
product offerings and distribution centers.
He bought a manufacturing location in Los
Angeles that made the same powders and
dairy products, giving the company a West
Coast presence, and has bought businesses
in New Jersey and Las Vegas, strategically
placing the company throughout the country.
To market his products and continue
growing his business, Kantner attends
trade shows and has initiated international
agreements to sell to Europe and the
Middle East, aligning the company with
people to export around the world.
HOW TO REACH: Kantner Ingredients, www.kantnergroup.com
or (419) 738-4060