Berryman Products’ mission reflects a long tradition of responsibility and thoughtful leadership, shaped across generations. From its earliest days, the company has treated automotive work as a personal commitment, guided by values formed through lived experience rather than market trends. That same sense of accountability continues to shape how the firm operates today, influencing the products it offers and the relationships it builds through trust.
The company has evolved into a family-run manufacturer with a wide range of automotive maintenance solutions, from fuel additives and engine cleaners to lubricants, tire sealants and other service essentials. Its lineup is built around performance, with the B‑12 Chemtool serving as a signature example, a fuel-system cleaner that can break down deposits and support smoother engine operation.
This focus on purposeful products is rooted in a history that began more than a century ago. Berryman Products’ story began in 1918 with Waldo B. “Pappy” Berryman, a breeder of stud horses in Dallas, whose life took an unexpected turn. In a moment of instinct and boldness, he traded his horse for a tire‑sealing formula, an exchange that would define the company’s identity.
Beau R. Blankenship, Vice President and General Manager of Berryman Products, shares, “Waldo refined the formula and began selling it across the Midwest with his children in tow. Every label carried his photograph as a personal guarantee, and every sale happened face to face.” Berryman adapted his production methods to the demands of travel, preparing and packaging the product wherever opportunity arose and bringing it directly to customers. That combination of hands-on work, direct accountability and commitment to the name established the foundation for the company’s culture.
As the decades passed, the business reached a crossroads. Berryman’s son, Waldo “Bud” Berryman Jr., chose a military career, leaving the company without a natural successor. During this period, his friendship with a Miami businessman, Robert Harlan Blankenship, Beau’s grandfather, opened the door to an unexpected transition. When a conversation between the two revealed that the company was struggling, the Blankenship family traveled to California to meet Berryman and understand the situation firsthand. They committed to stabilizing the business and taking responsibility for its future.
“My family believed the company could be set back on a solid footing, and we were willing to take that responsibility on. And we never even considered changing the name. We trusted the legacy, the reputation and the values behind it, and we wanted to honor what had already been built,” Blankenship says.
Family continuity became a defining feature of the company’s evolution. Across generations, involvement remained hands-on, with multiple family members contributing side by side with employees. The passage of responsibility unfolded as a natural progression, shaped by shared values and lived experience. This continuity fostered stability while allowing the company to adapt thoughtfully to changing needs.
Blankenship’s philosophy reflects the responsibility he inherited. Since stepping into his role in January 2025, he has focused on listening, exercising patience and caring for the people who keep the company moving. “I see my role as tending something that already has deep roots,” he explains. “My responsibility involves protecting those roots while making space for thoughtful progress.”
That philosophy has guided his priorities of reinforcing culture, maintaining consistency and supporting the employees who interact with customers every day. According to Blankenship, the company has seen a positive momentum in sales trends, something he attributes to the commitment of its workforce. Berryman Products is also increasingly focusing on international opportunities in Canada, Japan, Bahrain and Taiwan.
Despite Berryman’s growth, the emotional weight of the brand remains significant for the Blankenship family and extends across the workforce. “This brand carries meaning for a lot of people,” Blankenship says. “It belongs to the team as much as it belongs to our family.” That shared ownership encourages mutual respect and a collective sense of purpose.
An employee-first mindset flows from this perspective. The company emphasizes care and long-term relationships, aiming to create an environment where people envision their careers unfolding over time. “We want this to feel like a place where people can settle in and build a life,” Blankenship remarks.
The future of Berryman Products centers on empowering customers. “I hope we continue helping people feel confident fixing things themselves,” Blankenship says. That vision positions the brand as a mentor, offering support to new generations. The company moves forward with stewardship, humility, and respect for its history, carried by people committed to preserving its meaning and adding purposefully to its ongoing story.
About the Expert:
Beau R. Blankenship serves as Vice President and General Manager at Berryman Products, guiding the family-owned company with a focus on stewardship, culture and long-term relationships. His leadership emphasizes continuity, employee care and honoring the brand’s enduring legacy while supporting future generations of hands-on enthusiasts.
