Gonzales, TX, is Anything but Plain Vanilla, Thanks to Adams Extract & Spice

Founded in 1888, Adams Extract & Spice is one of the oldest continuously operated companies in Texas and one of the oldest spice and extract companies in the U.S. Since 2002, Adams has maintained a full-service spice and extract packaging and manufacturing operation at a 90,000 square foot facility in Gonzales, TX.

Adams has been a model of success typical in Gonzales and Texas’ Guadalupe Valley. The company celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2013, receiving the Texas Treasure Business Award, which recognizes the accomplishments of Texas businesses that have provided employment opportunities and support for the state’s economy for at least half a century.

Wendy Klein, Adams Business Analyst and Marketing Coordinator, notes, “Adams has an interesting backstory, but its real story is the company’s longevity and how it’s become a treasured part of the American household.” She adds, “We're proud of how we made a difference in kitchens and food manufacturing nationwide.”

While most people know the company for its Adams Best Vanilla, the company also manufactures and markets several notable banners, including Adams Best®, Adams Extract®, Adams® Seasoning & Spice and Carniceria®. In addition, Adams products are used for some of the nation’s most respected private-label brands and commercial meat and food products.

Best flavoring

Its humble beginnings can be traced back to Battle Creek, Michigan, the home of cereal company Kellogg, when founder and namesake John A. Adams began making and selling his Green Plant Sarsaparilla extract in 1888.

Adams moved his family to Beeville, TX, in 1905, when most vanilla was sold to pharmacies and often labeled, “Do Not Bake or Freeze.” Inspired by his wife’s desire to find a flavoring without those limitations, Adams announced that he could produce a better vanilla flavoring. His wife whipped up a cake with the new formula and proclaimed, "John, this is the best flavoring I have ever used.” He responded, “Well, that’s old man Adams’ best.” The name stuck, and Adams Best was created.

His son, Fred Adams -- the first student awarded a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Austin -- purchased the company from his father and relocated its production headquarters to Austin, Texas. The company grew and prospered under his direction, bringing the Red Velvet Cake to kitchens across America by being one of the first companies to sell red food color.

Interestingly, the 2009 movie Extract is based on creator/director Mike Judge’s childhood memories of the Adams Extract Plant in Austin.

Gonzales: a history of business success

The fact such a well-established company as Adams settled in Gonzales is not surprising as it has a long historical record of its own. Gonzales is one of the earliest Anglo-American settlements in Texas and the first west Texas’ Colorado River. Named for Rafael Gonzales, governor of the Mexican province of Coahuila, the city was the site of the first skirmish of the Texas Revolution.

Gonzales is one of the vibrant communities located within the Guadalupe Valley. Centrally located between the major markets of Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Victoria, Guadalupe Valley has a reputation for its favorable business growth environment, which attracts companies to South Central Texas. The nearby Shiner community is home to the legendary Spoetzl Brewery, the oldest independent brewery in Texas and known for producing Shiner Bock, and the historic Kaspar Companies, one of the oldest continuously operating companies in the country.

Daisy Scheske Freeman, Economic Development Director for GVEC, says, “These companies are corporate success stories of businesses that have put down roots here and become drivers in providing employment for the area.”

A Taste of the Good Life in Guadalupe Valley, Texas

Like Adams Extract, companies in the Guadalupe Valley have chosen to locate and remain here because it’s a good place for business and great for families. For example, Gonzales has been named one of the most charming river towns in Texas in a World Atlas article titled “8 Most Charming River Towns in Texas to Visit in 2024.”

With its ideal location and proximity to the international market of Mexico, the Guadalupe Valley has the ideal mix to formulate a success story for your business.

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