KaTom Adding 100 New Jobs

KaTom Restaurant Supply, a family-owned business run based in Kodak is growing again. The company earned $12.6 million in low cost loans from the US Department of Agriculture together with the Small Business Administration and Community Trust Bank. The funds will allow KaTom to add 40,000 square feet, which will help accommodate 100 new employees.

“2019 will be our best year ever,” said KaTom founder, President and CEO Patricia Bible. “And some of what this expansion will allow us to do will lead to more record-setting years.”

“KaTom is truly a home-grown Tennessee business,” said Jim Tracy, State Director of USDA Rural Development. “That’s the kind of company we love to see succeed, plus they hire employees from counties across the area.”

“KaTom is a Tennessee success story,” said Lt. Governor Randy McNally, who participated in the announcement. “The fact they have been named one of America’s Fastest Growing companies for 11 years in a row is an amazing achievement.”

“SBA is proud to partner with USDA and Community Trust Bank in financing KaTom’s expansion. Helping small businesses like KaTom grow, thrive, and succeed helps showcase that rural Tennessee businesses are strong and vital to the local economy.” said LaTanya Channel, Director of SBA’s Tennessee District Office.

“We are happy to be a part of the project,” said Community Trust Bank Market President Rhonda Longmire. “Our goal is to help the communities we serve prosper and grow, so this absolutely fits with our goals.”

The new space will allow KaTom to do several things. It will include a state-of-the-art video production facility, which will support its multi-million-dollar online sales.

“We will also add a commercial kitchen, and an area where we can set up equipment so chefs and restaurant owners considering a purchase can try different brands before deciding,” says Bible. “We think that will be a game-changer.”

The project also includes an additional 40,000 square feet of warehouse space.

“When you consider we started in a garage, this is amazing,” says Bible.

Design work is already underway. Construction should begin within two months. Completion is set for late 2020.