Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ Foods is a Fortune 500 company that manufactures and markets high-quality, brand-name food and meat products globally. While we are over 130 years old, we are just getting started.
George A. Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ established Geo. A. Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ & Co. in Austin, Minn.
1898
Valuing Service
The company’s long tradition of supporting the U.S. military and its veterans began when three employees enlisted with the Minnesota National Guard to serve in the Spanish-American War. George Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ promised full benefits and jobs upon their return.
1901
Setting Sale
Following impressive sales of fresh pork products, the first sales branch opened in Minneapolis, Minn.
1911
Ad-ing On
The first national advertising for the company appeared in Ladies Home Journal.
1926–1950
1926
Ham in a Can
Geo. A. Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ & Co. developed the world’s first canned ham.
Jay C. and George A. Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ
1927-1928
Passing the Torch
At age 67, George Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ retired from handling day-to-day operations but continued to serve as chief executive officer. His son, Jay C. Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ, was named acting president. Geo. A. Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ & Co. became a public company in 1928.
1935-1941
Master of Innovation
The transfer of leadership to Jay C. Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ brought with it a daring new set of ideas for management, products and advertising. Legacy products DintyMoore® beef stew, Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ® chili and SPAM® brand were introduced.
1938
Family Feeling
Employees were brought to the forefront of focus with the establishment of guaranteed annual wages, a joint-earnings plan and an employee profit sharing trust.
World War II
Serving Our Troops
With the passing of the Lend-Lease Act of 1941, Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ Foods shipped up to 15 million cans of meat per week overseas, most of which were products from the iconic SPAM® brand. By 1944, more than 90 percent of the canned foods were shipped for government use.
1941 and 1942
Giving Back
was created in 1941. followed the next year.
1946
Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ Girls
In a bold marketing move, Jay C. Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ established the Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ Girls, a traveling women’s drum-and-bugle corps, to promote Geo. A. Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ & Co. products.
1947
New Leader
After World War II, the company saw its first leader from outside the Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ family, Tim Corey.
1950–1975
1955
Quality Reigns
Under the leadership of Bob Gray and then Tommy Thompson, the company shifted its focus from high-volume production to market-driven, innovative products.
1959-1963
Big Time
Iconic products such as Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ®Little Sizzlers® pork sausage and Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ®Cure 81® hams were introduced during this era. Meanwhile, the SPAM® brand had produced its billionth can.
1969
Expanding Presence
Jim Holton led the company during an era of unprecedented investments and ideas. The company expanded its international presence and built 10 domestic facilities. The decision was also made to build a flagship plant in Austin, Minn., further solidifying the company’s small-town roots.
1973
Label Conscious
Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ Foods became the first meatpacking company to include nutritional labels on meat products.
1976–2000
1976
Money Talks
Annual sales topped $1 billion for the first time, largely in part from the strength of the company's iconic brands.
1979
New Era
The company was guided by Dick Knowlton through a whirlwind of intense industry competition and innovation.
1982
Here to Stay
A new 1,089,000-square-foot plant – equivalent to approximately 23 football fields – opened in Austin, Minn. The $100 million building featured state-of-the-art processing equipment and was the largest investment in company history.
1990
New York, New York
The company began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 1990 and announced its seventh two-for-one stock split since its inauguration as a publicly traded entity.
1993
Name Changer
Geo. A. Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ & Co. was officially renamed Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ to more accurately reflect the company’s presence in the industry. Joel Johnson capitalized on this change and guided the company with a marketing perspective, incorporating new technologies such as brand-specific websites.
2000–2025
2000-2013
Growing Family
Under the leadership of Jeff Ettinger, the company made more than 10 acquisitions, including SKIPPY® peanut butter; CytoSport, Inc., maker of Muscle Milk® products; and Applegate Farms, LLC., maker of natural and organic meats. It also crafted a joint venture that resulted in MegaMex Foods, LLC.
2011
Changing Lives
Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ Foods introduced SPAMMY®, a fortified, shelf-stable turkey spread, to help address childhood malnutrition throughout the world. The program has touched 8,300 families and more than 25 million servings have been distributed since 2011.
2012
Sure Can
The SPAM® brand celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2012 with the help of the company’s first-ever campaign spokescharacter, Sir Can-A-Lot®.
2015 – 2025
An Era of Change
Under the leadership of Jim Snee, the company underwent impactful, innovative and transformational work during a period of rapid and significant change.
2016
125 Years Old and Just Getting Started
The company celebrated its in 2016, along with the grand opening of the new in downtown Austin, Minn. Meanwhile, Jeff Ettinger, chairman of the board and chief executive officer, was named one of the World's Best CEOs by Barron's.
2020
A Path Forward
The company’s program marks a commitment to provide scholarship opportunities to children of its team members.
2020
Expanding Opportunties
Foodservice-focused Burke Corporation announces a 210,000 square foot expansion of their Nevada-based facility and Papillion Foods — a Nebraska-based production facility — opens to address increasing demand for dry sausage products.
2020
To A Healthy Future
In partnership with Premise Health, a state-of-the-art health center is established to improve access to high-quality, affordable healthcare for Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ Foods team members.
2021
Nutty Acquisition
The Planters® and Corn Nuts® brands are welcomed into the Ã÷ÐǺÚÁÏ Foods family of brands, significantly enhancing the company’s snacking portfolio.
2025â€Ñï°ù±ð²õ±ð²Ô³Ù
2025
Next Chapter
John Ghingo named president, becoming the 11th person to hold the position in the company’s nearly 135-year history.
