Bela

Founded in 1997 by Joshua Scherz, a native New Englander and US Air Force veteran, and his mother Florence. Based in Massachusetts. Scherz watched New England's canneries disappear and found a Portuguese partner in Olhão rather than abandon the craft. Bela was the first American brand to pack sardines in organic extra virgin olive oil and the first to use lithographed cans in the US market. The only major US tinned fish brand built before the current wave of premium conservas interest, fully family-owned and veteran-owned for nearly 30 years.