Sevier News Messenger Sevier County News and Opinion
KaTom Restaurant Supply is growing again, both physically with an expansion and with associates, adding 100 new jobs.
“Our focus is on continued significant growth every year,” said founder/CEO/President Patricia Bible. “We are always planning an expansion to accommodate that growth.” Bible runs the family-owned business with her daughter Paula Chesworth and son Charley Bible.
Ground was formally broken on the new addition on March 3, 2020. The additional 58,000 square feet will include warehouse storage, equipment display, a media production facility and office space.
“Having more space and better facilities just helps us do more for our clients and associates,” said Bible. “It helps us keep growing and contributing more to the community as well.”
“This is great news for Sevier County,” said Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters. “When we get a homegrown East Tennessee company that keeps expanding its workforce it’s good for every part of our economy.”
Loans for the project came from the US Department of Agriculture Rural Development and Community Trust Bank.
“Small, local businesses are the engines of a rural community,” said USDA Tennessee Director of Rural Development Jim Tracy. “We are happy to assist KaTom Restaurant Supply with their business expansion and debt refinance that will ultimately create new jobs, retain existing jobs, and increase economic opportunities in the area.”
“Sevierville and Sevier County continue to grow and KaTom is an important part of that,” said Sevierville Chamber Board Chair Jeff Murrell. “100 new jobs means 100 families positively impacted, and good news for all the local businesses with which those folks spend money.”
KaTom was founded in the Bible family garage in Morristown, Tennessee and had just a few employees. Soon its facility in Kodak will have almost 170,000 square feet and 280 associates. The firm will likely top $250 million in sales this year. KaTom has made the Inc.5000 Fastest Growing Companies in America an astounding 11 years in a row. Only some .22 percent of the companies that made the list have accomplished that.
Photo: Founder/CEO/President Patricia Bible and son Charley Bible break ground on KaTom Restaurant Supply’s new 58,000 sq. ft. expansion at a ceremony on March 3, 2020.
