Bush Brothers Chairman Drew Everett Eyes Growth for Family-Owned Bean Company

Bush Brothers, the Knoxville, Tennessee company that sells 80 percent of America’s canned baked beans, remains under the control of the founding family more than a century after its start as a general store. Fourth-generation chairman Drew Everett, 56, has led the 100 percent family-owned firm since 2015.

He said the company is shifting its identity from America’s Baked Bean Company to America’s Bean Company.

Everett shares ownership with roughly 100 relatives across four branches and six generations. He said the family has trained more than 60 shareholders, employees and directors in governance at the Kellogg School of Management. In 2019 the board hired its second outside family CEO, Al Williams. Williams said the family wants the business to continue indefinitely.

The company controls more than one-third of the overall U.S. canned bean market and sells products including pinto, black, kidney, cannellini and chickpeas to more than 100,000 retailers. Everett said the firm has ended earlier experiments with bean dips and hummus and is instead expanding its organic bean line, highlighted by the 2022 purchase of Westbrae Natural Organics.

Forbes estimates annual revenue at $1 billion and EBITDA margins at 12.5 percent. The publication values the family’s stake at more than $1.35 billion. Everett said he regularly receives acquisition inquiries and gives the same reply each time.

“We're not for sale. We're not interested in that. We continue to be proud of our heritage and our family legacy.”

The company traces its roots to 1897, when A.J. Bush opened a store in Chestnut Hill, Tennessee. Canning began in 1908, and the signature baked bean product launched in 1969.