'Smoothie' sailing: Orem company aims to serve up best blenders

OREM — Say goodbye to wimpy blenders and chunk-filled smoothies. Orem-based Blendtec, which Thursday officially marked the opening of a new building, aims to serve up the best blenders on the market.

The company started in 1975 when Tom Dickson — the owner/CEO/chief engineer — created a high-powered wheat grinder that proved far more efficient than old stone grinders. The parent company — K-TEC — changed directions when Dickson realized the grinder's blender attachment was much more popular.

More than 20 years and millions of dollars later, Blendtec considers itself a leader in the blender industry. Last year's sales were $22 million, with a projected $30 million for this year.

The company Thursday celebrated its new 112,000-square-foot building at 1206 S. 1680 West in Orem with a ribbon cutting, tours and taste tests.

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. spoke briefly at the event and congratulated company officials on their entrepreneurial spirit.

"I thank you and your team for ... being willing to take a risk, and to do it here in Utah," Huntsman said. "This state has an entrepreneurial drive ... that is like no place I've ever been."

The company's products are sold far beyond Utah. The American-built blenders are now in 66 countries, said president David Beck, and are popular because of their tough construction, stainless steel metal parts and heavy-duty motors with up to 20 amps. There also are different sizes of blenders and jars and the option of using a syrup-based product or a real fruit combination.

The machines are used by businesses like Hogi Yogi, Baskin-Robbins, Ruby Tuesday and others, and Blendtec executives say customers can recognize their square and five-sided jars and noise-muffling lids.

But Blendtec goes beyond the basic blender. It also has all-in-one smoothie machines that use a patented computer chip "brain." The chip allows for drink combinations, perfect portion control and complete blending — all in a noise-decreasing, splatter-proof chamber. Business owners also can download new blend patterns for signature drinks that stay consistent throughout their stores.

"We have some of our biggest contracts because we make the drinks perfectly," said senior vice president Richard Galbraith.

The company's signature item, a blender dispenser with ice — the BDI — creates, with just a touch of a button, a smooth, frozen concoction complete with fruit syrup, water, ice and the appropriate blending time.

During an open house Thursday, visitors and employees used the BDI to create mango, strawberry pina colada or pomegranate blueberry smoothies, among other flavors. The machines also can be used with frozen coffee drinks or alcoholic blends.

The focus now is providing blenders for home use, but it's a matter of changing public perception, Galbraith said.

"You will not see us selling a $29.95 blender," he said. "We have to convince somebody it's worth it."

The Blendtec equipment starts at $400 and can get as expensive as $10,000.

"Who else has this out in the marketplace?" Galbraith asked as he took one group on a tour of the facility. "Nobody."

---

E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com