Bush Brothers and Company
| Company type | Privately held |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food processing |
| Founded | 1908 |
| Founder | A.J. Bush |
| Headquarters | Knoxville , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada |
Key people | Condon Bush (former CEO and chairman), Jim Ethier (president and COO as of 1992) |
| Products | Canned baked beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, pinto beans, refried beans, peas, hominy, cut green beans, pork and beans, canned vegetables |
| Website | www |
Bush Brothers and Company is a privately held, family-operated food processing business renowned for its Bush's Best line of canned baked beans. The firm dominates approximately 80% of the U.S. market for canned baked beans, with yearly revenues surpassing $400 million and processing in excess of 55 million pounds of beans annually. Its range of products extends to include black beans, garbanzo beans, pinto beans, refried beans, as well as peas, hominy, and cut green beans. The company’s headquarters are located in Knoxville, Tennessee, with manufacturing plants situated in Augusta, Wisconsin and Chestnut Hill, Tennessee. Distribution channels cover retail stores and food service providers throughout the United States and Canada.
History
The origins of the company trace back to 1904 when entrepreneur A.J. (Andrew Jackson) Bush joined forces with the Stokely family to establish a tomato canning facility in Chestnut Hill, Tennessee. By 1908, capitalizing on the cannery’s success, Bush acquired full ownership by purchasing the Stokelys’ shares and launched Bush Brothers & Company alongside his two eldest sons, Fred and Claude. This move initiated the company’s independent operations and set the stage for its expansion within the food processing sector.
Incorporation and growth (1922–1935)
In 1922, A.J. Bush formalized the business by incorporating Bush Brothers & Company, financing this step through a $945 loan secured against his life insurance policy along with a bank credit line. Fred Bush was appointed president and also took on a leadership role as a director of the National Canners Association, a prominent industry organization.
The firm’s canning methods progressed from hand-operated processes to steam-powered equipment and ultimately to electric machinery. Throughout the 1920s, Bush Brothers diversified beyond tomatoes by establishing a new plant in Clinton, Tennessee in 1923 and introducing peach canning in 1924. Expansion continued with ventures into corn and hominy by 1928 through leasing the Oak Grove corn processing facility near Dandridge, Tennessee. In 1930, a newly constructed plant in LaFollette, Tennessee began handling blueberry processing alongside tomatoes.
To accommodate increasing production demands, the company replaced its initial Chestnut Hill cannery with a larger plant in 1929 that served as its primary manufacturing site. The introduction of its pork and beans product line under the Chestnut Hill brand occurred in 1933, accompanied by securing a contract with Armour and Company which facilitated entry into canned meats. Additionally, production of Tony Dog and Cat Food commenced during this period and continued until the 1980s.
By 1935, Bush Brothers had achieved substantial growth—canning ten million units annually while managing 2,000 acres of owned farmland and maintaining contracts with approximately 500 farmers supplying vegetables.
Losses due to Tennessee Valley Authority (1942–1948)
In 1942, following the Tennessee Valley Authority’s decision to close Douglas Dam floodgates, flooding affected the French Broad River bottomlands where Bush Brothers held farmland. After negotiations with TVA, the company sold seven valuable farmland parcels along with the Oak Grove Canning Plant to TVA.
To compensate for these setbacks, Bush Brothers acquired Blytheville Canning Company located in Arkansas in 1944. Despite initial difficulties stemming from poor plant conditions, Claude Bush relocated there in 1948 to oversee operations and successfully restored profitability.
Growth and transformation (1946–1965)
Following the passing of A.J. Bush in 1946, Bush Brothers & Company shifted its focus from producing private label goods to establishing a branded identity under the Bush's Best name. The emergence of supermarkets coupled with television advertising throughout the 1950s significantly enhanced the company's profitability. During this period, the product range expanded beyond canned vegetables, notably introducing dry bean varieties such as Great Northern Beans with Plain Sauce in 1952 and Mexican Style Beans in Chili Gravy in 1953.
After Fred Bush’s death, Claude Bush assumed the presidency in 1959. With substantial financial resources available, Claude aggressively pursued expansion through acquisitions, acquiring multiple canning facilities including Shiocton Kraut Company in Wisconsin, Hyde Park Canning Company in Oklahoma, an idle plant located in Augusta, Wisconsin, and Valley Canning Sweet Potato plants in Louisiana. To improve logistics capabilities, the company established Tennessee Truck Lines in 1962.
By 1965, Claude advanced to chairman while appointing his brother-in-law, C.J. Ethier, as president.
Introduction of Bush's Best Baked Beans (1969–1978)
The industry slowdown in 1969 triggered a strategic shift within the company. Condon Bush, son of Claude, created Bush's Best Baked Beans by utilizing his mother Kathleen’s confidential recipe to diversify product offerings and increase manufacturing efficiency. This new product quickly captured market share, with sales soaring from 10,000 cases in 1969 to nearly one million by 1971.
Leveraging the baked beans’ popularity during the U.S. Bicentennial celebrations, Bush Brothers concentrated efforts on this product line, achieving a remarkable 173% sales growth in 1976 followed by an additional 34% increase in 1977. In 1978, Claude retired as chairman; C.J. Ethier succeeded him while Condon assumed the role of president, initiating a fresh era of leadership and expansion.
Dubon acquisition and restructuring (1979–1993)
In 1979, Bush Brothers purchased the Dubon brand which included canned vegetables such as carrots, peas, and beets aimed primarily at the Louisiana and New Orleans markets. Throughout the 1980s, the company gradually shifted focus toward branded, ready-to-eat products amid internal family disagreements over strategic direction. After C.J. Ethier’s death in 1989 and Claude Bush’s passing in 1990, Jim Ethier advocated for leadership to engage Dr. Leon Danco from the Center for Family Business. This consultation resulted in board reorganization that incorporated external industry professionals from companies like Hershey, Gerber, White & Case, and Iams to strengthen corporate governance.
To further support growth initiatives and enhance sales management professionalism, Bush Brothers moved its headquarters to Knoxville, Tennessee in 1991. The following year saw Jim Ethier appointed as president and COO while Condon Bush took on CEO and chairman roles.
Jay Bush era and Duke mascot (1993–present)
In 1993, Bush Brothers partnered with Atlanta-based advertising firm Cole, Henderson, Drake (CHD) to introduce a campaign highlighting the "secret family recipe" behind their baked beans. Jay Bush—Condon’s son and company spokesperson—made his national debut in 1994. The campaign gained widespread popularity in 1995 with the addition of Duke, a talking golden retriever mascot inspired by Jay’s actual dog. Created by CHD copywriter David Garzotto, this marketing approach led to a significant surge in baked bean sales.
The commercials featured the memorable tagline "Roll that beautiful bean footage!" emphasizing the unique combination of bacon, brown sugar, and secret spices that defined the product. This campaign propelled Bush Brothers’ national market share from 48% to an impressive 80%, cementing its dominance within the baked beans category. The brand further extended its reach by publishing a children’s book starring Duke in 2006.
Engagement with Duke continued into the social media era; notably in 2012 comedian Julie Klausner’s poetry contest involving Duke generated widespread online attention. On June 27, 2018, Sam—the dog who portrayed Duke—was euthanized due to cancer; however, his role had been recast several years prior.
Recent Developments
Located in Chestnut Hill, Tennessee, the enlarged Bush Visitor Center traces its roots back to A.J. Bush's original General Store. Today, it encompasses a museum, retail outlet, café, and a secure exhibit housing the "Bush's Secret Family Recipe" book.
Bush Brothers is the official sponsor of the #47 Chevy Camaro in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, fielded by JTG Daugherty Racing. This vehicle was formerly driven by Bobby Labonte and is currently piloted by Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
The company also plays a key role in supporting Augusta, Wisconsin’s annual Bean and Bacon Days festival. Notably, Bush Brothers purchased a canning plant there in 1961.
In 2009, Kristian Bush—great-grandson of founder A.J. Bush and member of the musical group Sugarland—revealed on The Oprah Winfrey Show that beans were a staple in his childhood diet.
Brands
- Bush's
- Bush's Best
- Bush's Showboat Pork and Beans
- Blue Lake Cut Green Beans
- Tony Dog Food
- Tony Dog and Cat Food
- Dubon Premier
See also
- List of food companies
- Baked beans
- Beans
- Canning
- List of American advertising characters
- List of mascots
- National Canners Association
External links
- Food product brands
- Food and drink companies of the United States
- Food manufacturers of the United States
- Food and drink companies based in Tennessee
- Canned food
- Trade secrets
- Companies based in Knoxville, Tennessee
- American companies established in 1908
- Food and drink companies established in 1908
- 1908 establishments in Tennessee
- Baked beans
- Family-owned companies of the United States
- Privately held companies based in Tennessee
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment