AmeriQual to supply more meals to troops

[kman]

From The Courier Press:

AmeriQual to supply more meals to troops

November 6, 2004

Vanderburgh County-based AmeriQual Foods Inc., which produces Meals Ready to Eat for the U.S. Department of Defense, was awarded a government contract worth more than $21 million this week.

Under the contract, AmeriQual will produce thousands more MREs to feed U.S. troops and federal civilian agencies.

It comes on the heels of a defense department contract of more than $16.2 million awarded to AmeriQual on Sept. 23.

Both contracts are for MREs for the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies, according to the defense department Web site.

The completion date for the latest contract is expected to be March 31, 2005. The completion date on the earlier contract is Jan. 31, 2005. A spokesman for AmeriQual could not be reached for comment.

The company has received a number of other defense contracts in recent years.

AmeriQual produces some two dozen different types of MREs, including mesquite chicken, seafood jambalaya, salmon fillet and sloppy joe, all in a pouch.

The meals are designed to sustain an individual engaged in heavy activity, such as helping to fight the war in Iraq, when normal food-service facilities are unavailable.

The bag is lightweight and fits easily into military field clothing pockets. A flameless ration heating device also is provided.

The shelf life of an MRE is three years at 80 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the shelf life can be extended through the use of cold storage facilities prior to distribution.

In addition to its effort to feed American military personnel, AmeriQual has commercial contracts to produce and/or package products for major companies.