Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Wednesday marked a milestone achievement at the National Meat and Provision Company, NATCO Food Service. The legendary food service company in Reserve, St John the Baptist Parish in Louisiana celebrated 100 years in business on Mar. 12.

The event began at 11:30 a.m. at NATCO’s production facility in Reserve. President of St John the Baptist Parish Jaclyn Hotard was in attendance, joined by Sheriff Mike Tregre and other invited guests.

During the ceremony, President Hotard presented Anne Babin, co-owner and managing partner  of NATCO with a key to the Parish, saying, “You’re a vital part of our economy.”

“This key represents the door to our home, so I felt like this was such a fitting occasion to bestow upon you and NATCO a key to St. John the Baptist Parish,” said President Hotard.

Being a century-old institution helped, too. NATCO’s culinary experience is etched in the memory of generations of clients, keeping the community rallying and delighting in its food products.

Since its opening, NATCO has expanded its product line to include thousands of dry goods, milk, eggs, specialty items, and the center-of-plate proteins it is known for.

“There have been many uncertainties in our journey since we moved into St John the Baptist Parish after Hurricane Katrina, but with our dedicated staff and clients, NATCO thrives,” said Babin, managing partner at NATCO. “We’ve proven our ability to survive and find new ways to grow, and we are very proud of that.”

In 1925, first-generation American Nicholas Lalla founded NATCO as a meat cart in New Orleans. Now in its fourth generation of family leadership, the company delivers the highest-quality meats to restaurants and businesses across the Gulf South, helping to define our region’s legendary flavors.

The food company has thrived due to its resilience compared to other companies in the New Orleans region. It has survived Hurricane Katrina and the pandemic, which stems from a solid foundation of quality and dedication.

“I think that’s the biggest legacy we have, which is the longevity that most businesses don’t have,” Thomas Lalla, co-founder and managing partner at NATCO. “But to last 100 years, it’s more than a milestone. It shows perseverance and dedication to your customers and the quality, which is the legacy our grandfather has handed us.”

Nicholas passed away in 1982, while his son Leonard, who took over the business in 1968, died in 2016 at the age of 87. His children, Anne, Thomas, and John, are committed to ensuring that the family business thrives.

The grandchildren aim to grow the business while staying true to its core values, which are rooted in Nichola Lalla’s “true Southern hospitality.”

“As we look to the future, we remain rooted in the core values that shaped our past,” says Jenny Roy, head of accounting at NATCO. “Exceptional quality, unparalleled service, and enduring relationships with privileged clients,”.