Surry, Va. (May 2017) – January 19, 2016 is a day that President and Cure Master Sam W. Edwards III will never forget. That’s the day that his family run business of 90 plus years was devastated by a catastrophic fire, destroying the famed smokehouses that have been crafting the finest traditional Virginia Country Hams, Bacon, and Smoked Sausage available. It also happened to be the final day of the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco. News of the blaze brought shockwaves to chefs and specialty retailers across the country, and the immediate question was when will they come back?
Despite continued litigation with their insurer, the road to recovery has begun and the company is proud to make their return to the 2017 Specialty Food Association Summer Fancy Food Show in New York. “While working at limited capacity”, said Edwards, “the business model we have now is working. We’ve been able to get our mainstay Country Ham, Bacon, and Sausage products back to market, and our signature Long Aged Wigwam and Surryano Hams are both in the works. After all we’ve been through, we’re just happy to be back up and running, and thrilled to be back at the Fancy Food Show”. The company will also be rolling out their new branding and logo design as Edwards Virginia Smokehouse, a tip of the hat acknowledging their 90th Anniversary.
Though facing many uncertainties and unanswered questions, Edwards and his team maintain their commitment to not just rebuild the company, but preserve the history and heritage of their iconic Great American Country Ham. Edwards added, “Some folks would probably just give up after something like this, but that’s just not our way.”
Edwards Virginia Smokehouse will be located in Booth 6234 as part of the Virginia Pavilion.
Booth 6234/Virginia Pavilion
S. Wallace Edwards & Sons
1-800-200-4267 (HAMS)
www.edwardsvaham.com
inquiry@edwardsvaham.com