Then & Now

In The Beginning -

in 1934 Bob and Laura Bedell, with their daughter Lee, purchased a butcher shop in Dover Centre. That was the beginning of "Bedell's Butcher Shop". The butcher shop was located on the Baldoon Road, just around the corner from the present location.

Bob would cut his quality meats and pack them in wooden crates, then place them on his pick up truck which was cooled by ice that was cut from Mitchell's Bay. He would then pedal his product up and down the roads of Dover Township.

In 1935 Pat Bedell was born in the house which currently houses some of the Bedell's offices, and along with her sister Lee, helped mom and dad around the shop.

Between 1935 and 1939 the butcher shop was relocated to the 11th concession of Dover where it still thrives today.

In 1942 the Locker Plant was built and the house in which they lived was moved next door. The local Blacksmith Shop was torn down to accommodate the house.

It was in the summer of 1949 when Frank Bonvarlez met Pat Bedell while vacationing in Dover Centre. The two ended up as classmates at highschool and were married in 1956.

By 1958 Bob and Laura Bedell were retiring and asked Frank and Pat if they were interested in purchasing the Butcher shop. The declined and the shop was sold to a man from Wallaceburg, but in 9 months the business had fallen badly and Bob Bedell was forced to foreclose.

On September 8th, 1960 Frank and Pat Bonvarlez purchased the business from Bob and Laura and reopened the business as "Bedell Locker and Freezer Service".

in 1962 they purchased the General Store which was next door and in 1964 merged the two businesses with the addition of some extra space.

The meat business and store continued to grow. It was in 1970 when McCain's were looking for someone in the Chatham area to distribute french fries. After 3 people in Chatham recommended Bedell's, they (McCain's) finally ventured out to Dover Centre to see if there was any interest. Frank saw the french fries as a great addition to go with the meat products he was selling to local restaurants. Little did Frank know what would follow!

The first shipment of 200 cases of fries got the ball rolling. With the success of the fries, Frank saw the need for many more frozen products and began to look for more room.

They had purchased a delivery truck with "Bedell's Frozen Foods" on one side and "Kent County Ice" on the other. Selling meat, frozen foods and ice became a great combo as everything could be delivered on one truck.

In 1972 the meat lockers were removed to make one big freezer, and a small freezer was added in the back to help accommodate the growing business. Quality and Service kept the customers coming back to Bedell's Frozen Foods.

One year later it was time to grow again. With the purchase of land to the east, a new building to house the freezer and ice plant was begun.

In 1975 the buildings were in use and a second truck was purchased, and with the different logos on each side, some people thought that there were 4 trucks.

It was 1979 when Pat Richards along with Brian Tucker, approached Frank and Pat Bonvarlez in regards to purchasing the Frozen Food Business.

In 1980 the Frozen Food Business was incorporated and became Bedell's Frozen Foods Ltd., with shareholders Pat Richards, Brian Tucker and Frank Bonvarlez. Pat Richards was hired as General Manager.

It was at that time also that Kent County Ice became Great Lakes Ice which remained with the Bonvarlez family.

The business continued to grow with the additions of many other food items. Paper and cleaning products were added and Bedell's Frozen Foods began to expand its territory. Salespeople were moved to Sarnia and Windsor and soon Bedell's was serving a large part of southwestern Ontario including the London/St. Thomas areas.

This increase in business was cause for further expansion and the 1990's saw 10,000 sq. feet added to the operation BUT more space was needed.

In 1998 - 1999 Bedell's purchased a 28,000 sq. foot building from D&D Catering in Windsor. With the addition of Lloyd Shepley as Owner/Manager "Bedell's Essex Food Service Distributors Inc." was created.

Quality products with a meat program which is second to none, and the best service in the industry has brought Bedell's to where it is today.

"Your Success Is Our Success"

[ Top ]