Hungry for Growth: FFCFC Feeds Cajun Specialty Meats’
Need For Expansion Financing

Cajun Specialty Meats, a Pensacola based specialty meat manufacturer with wholesale, retail, and internet distribution points, recently contacted FFCFC to arrange financing for the purchase and renovation of an existing property. The preservation of working capital was a top priority for the two brother management team.

Working with James Hosman, FFCFC Vice President for Northwest Florida, Cajun Specialty Meats received SBA authorization for its financing on March 15, 2006, and closed its purchase and renovation/construction loan just two short days later. Renovations are nearing completion and the company expects to move into its new location this month. Although he expected a difficult and time consuming process, Carl Broussard, President of Cajun Specialty Meats, says, “Working with James was a real pleasure. He made a complicated process very simple for us and his expertise made it possible for us to apply, receive approval and close our loan in a relatively short time frame.”

Broussard continued, “The primary reason for choosing an FFCFC 504 was to save cash and working capital. 10% down on all hard and soft costs made the deal doable for us and the savings in working capital will allow us to more than double our sales once we move into our new facility.”

Raised in Maurice, Louisiana, Carl and his brother, Cory, moved to Pensacola 10 years ago and began preparing home meal replacements with a Cajun flavor. The majority of the company’s sales are via the internet and they supply a small number of wholesale/retail outlets in Northeast Florida. The company is the second largest producer in the United States of Turduckens (semi-boneless turkeys stuffed with boneless duck, boneless chicken, cornbread dressing, and Cajun-style pork sausage). Other Cajun specialties include Red Beans & Rice, Seafood Gumbo, Pork, Chicken and a variety of Cajun spices. The business has been quite successful and sales have doubled over the last two years, driving the company’s need to expand into a new facility.

“Carl and Cory brought the art of Cajun food preparation to Pensacola and are a unique blend of master chefs, great salesmen and good businessmen,” said FFCFC’s Hosman. “Being able to include closing costs, an interest reserve and professional fees in the financing project made it possible for them to focus on hiring new staff and handling the ever increasing pressure for more product to more customers.”

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