A look at Portland's Barber Foods, which has assembled Maine's most diverse work

Authors

Abby Zimet

Source

Down East

Date

12-1-2005

Pages

74-77, 96-97

Abstract

A look at Portland's Barber Foods, which has assembled Maine's most diverse workforce, many of them refugees and immigrants who get free on-site education. Hagop Thrabian, an immigrant from Armenia, became Jack Barberian, and his son Augustus started Barber Foods (named Barber Beef Co.) in 1955. It is the country's third-largest maker of prepared frozen chicken and the largest maker of stuffed entrees. Barber's starting wage is more than double the national minimum and benefits are excellent. Despite the company's support, many workers are starting from square one. With stories of some of their lives.

Subjects

Barber Foods Portland, Business firms Portland, Immigrants in Portland

Recommended Citation

Zimet, Abby, "A look at Portland's Barber Foods, which has assembled Maine's most diverse work" (2005). Maine News Index - Down East Magazine. 3017.
https://digitalcommons.portlandlibrary.com/news_downeast/3017