Hormel Foods

Hormel Foods Corporation

File:Hormel Foods logo.svg Logo used since 2019
Company type	Public
Industry	Food processing
Founded	January 1, 1891 (1891-01-01) in Austin, Minnesota, United States
Founder	George A. Hormel
Headquarters	Austin, Minnesota , United States
Area served	Worldwide (over 80 countries)
Key people	James Snee (CEO)
Products	Packaged and refrigerated food items including Spam, Planters, Columbus Craft Meats, Dinty Moore, Jennie-O, Skippy
Number of employees	Not specified
Parent	None
Website	www.hormelfoods.com

Hormel Foods Corporation, commonly referred to as Hormel Foods or simply Hormel, is an American multinational company specializing in food processing. Established in 1891 in Austin, Minnesota by entrepreneur George A. Hormel, the company originally concentrated on packaging and distributing pork, chicken, beef, and lamb products. Its well-known product, Spam, was launched in 1937. By the 1980s, Hormel had broadened its offerings to include a wide variety of packaged and refrigerated food items. The company adopted the name Hormel Foods Corporation in 1993 and operates under its primary Hormel brand as well as others such as Planters, Columbus Craft Meats, Dinty Moore, Jennie-O, and Skippy. Its products are available in more than 80 countries, underscoring its extensive international presence and market impact.

1890–1920

Founded in 1891 as George A. Hormel & Company by George A. Hormel in Austin, Minnesota, the business was renamed Hormel Foods in 1993.

George A. Hormel, born in 1860 in Buffalo, New York, gained early experience working at a slaughterhouse in Chicago before becoming a traveling buyer of wool and hides. After settling in Austin, he borrowed $500 to start a meat business. Initially collaborating with Albert Friedrich—who handled retail while Hormel oversaw production—the partnership dissolved in 1891 when Hormel launched his own meat packing plant along the Cedar River.

To maintain operations during the company’s infancy, Hormel diversified into trading hides, eggs, wool, and poultry. The Dairy Brand trademark was first registered in 1903. By the early twentieth century, distribution hubs had been established in key cities including St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth, San Antonio, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and Birmingham.

In 1915, Hormel introduced dry sausage varieties such as Cedar Cervelat and Holsteiner Salami. By 1916, its products were nationally advertised through publications like Good Housekeeping.

1920–1950

In 1921, Jay Hormel—son of founder George Hormel—discovered that assistant controller Cy Thomson had embezzled $1,187,000 over a decade. This incident led George Hormel to implement more professional management practices by enhancing capital controls, terminating inefficient employees, and emphasizing innovation under the guiding principle “Originate, don't imitate." In 1926, the company launched Flavor-Sealed Ham—the first canned ham produced in the United States—followed by canned chicken products two years later. During the 1930s, Hormel expanded its advertising efforts through radio programs like The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show to increase brand awareness.

In 1933, workers led by butcher Frank Ellis established the Independent Union of All Workers and executed one of the earliest successful sit-down strikes in the country; this union later joined the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO).

Hormel broadened its product line with Chili introduced in 1936 and Spam launched in 1937; both became hallmark items for the company. In 1938, Jay C. Hormel initiated the "Joint Savings Plan," enabling employees to participate in profit-sharing arrangements that enhanced workforce motivation.

By 1942, George and Jay Hormel founded the Hormel Foundation to oversee family trusts and support research projects including the establishment of the Hormel Institute at the University of Minnesota. Initially focused on soybean nutrition studies, this institute later expanded into food science and animal disease research. During World War II, production increased markedly with approximately 65% of output purchased by the U.S. government by 1945. George Hormel passed away in March 1946 at age 85.

1950–2000

In 1959, Hormel became the pioneer meatpacker to earn the American Humane Society's Seal of Approval for administering anesthesia to animals prior to slaughter.

The company launched Little Sizzlers sausages in 1961 and introduced Cure 81 hams in 1963; however, Little Sizzlers was discontinued by 2019. In 1985, Hormel debuted the Not-So-Sloppy-Joe Sloppy Joe sauce. The following year, Hormel broadened its product range by acquiring Jennie-O Foods and obtaining exclusive rights to produce Chi-Chi's branded items. In 1987, the company introduced the Top Shelf line featuring microwavable, non-frozen products and enhanced its poultry segment by purchasing Chicken by George in 1988, a brand developed by former Miss America Phyllis George. That same year saw the introduction of microwave bacon, while in 1984, Hormel had previously launched Frank 'n Stuff stuffed hot dogs.

In August 1985, employees at Hormel’s Austin, Minnesota headquarters initiated a strike amid a downturn affecting the meatpacking industry that had triggered wage reductions across competitors. Although Hormel had initially avoided severe pay cuts, management demanded a 23% wage decrease, compelling workers—already burdened with wage freezes and unsafe working conditions—to take industrial action. Led by United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local P-9, this strike became one of the lengthiest labor disputes of the 1980s and garnered nationwide attention, including a consumer boycott of Hormel products. The strike concluded after ten months in June 1986.

2000–2010

The Spam Museum opened its doors in Austin, Minnesota in 2001. That same year, Hormel acquired the Turkey Store and combined it with Jennie-O Foods to create Jennie-O Turkey Store.

Starting in 2006, Hormel began publishing Corporate Social Responsibility reports and has been recognized for ten consecutive years in Corporate Responsibility magazine’s list of "100 best corporate citizens."

A 2008 New York Times article reported a notable rise in SPAM sales during economic hardships. In 2009, Hormel partnered with Herdez del Fuerte to establish MegaMex Foods, a joint venture marketing Mexican food brands such as Herdez, La Victoria, Chi Chi's, and Wholly Guacamole within the U.S.

Also in 2008, PETA released footage exposing animal mistreatment at a pig farm supplying Hormel. The company condemned these actions as "completely unacceptable." Following the investigation, several farm workers were dismissed and faced legal repercussions. Hormel’s 2007 Corporate Responsibility Report underscored its commitment to supplier adherence to animal welfare standards.

2010–present

Hormel executed a two-for-one stock split in 2011. In 2013, it acquired Skippy—the leading peanut butter brand in China and second largest worldwide—from Unilever for $700 million, including production facilities in both the U.S. and China.

In 2015, Hormel expanded its meat offerings by purchasing Applegate Farms for roughly $775 million. That year also marked the introduction of Hormel Vital Cuisine—a line of ready-to-eat meals and nutritional products tailored for cancer patients—developed in collaboration with culinary and nutrition experts.

Building on earlier commitments to aid Guatemalan families with one million cans of SPAM, Hormel launched SPAMMY in 2015: a fortified poultry-based spread designed for USDA and USAID feeding programs.

After an animal welfare investigation at one supplier’s facility in 2015, Hormel strengthened its oversight by assigning humane handling officers and increasing compliance training and audits.

In 2016, Hormel sold Diamond Crystal Brands to Peak Rock Capital while acquiring nut butter producer Justin's for $280 million. From 2016 through 2019, the company was recognized as one of the Human Rights Campaign’s Best Places to Work for LGBT equality, achieving a score of 95 out of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index in 2019.

Hormel divested Clougherty Packing—which owned Farmer John and Saag’s brands—to Smithfield Foods in 2017. Later that year, it acquired deli meat manufacturer Columbus Manufacturing for $850 million. Also in 2017, following concerns about animal welfare at a pork supplier’s facility, Hormel temporarily halted purchases from that vendor.

Hormel has consistently been named among Military Times’ top 100 Best for Vets Employers since 2013, reflecting its ongoing dedication to veteran employment.

In April 2019, Hormel co-hosted the Small Change Big Impact Food Summit at Harvard University. By September of that year, it reached its target for reducing non-renewable energy consumption ahead of schedule and introduced Happy Little Plants—a vegetarian meat alternative aimed at both retail and foodservice markets.

On September 18, 2020, Hormel set a global record by organizing the largest virtual pizza party with participation exceeding 3,000 individuals.

In February 2021, Hormel significantly expanded its nut product portfolio by acquiring Kraft Heinz’s Planters brand along with other nut businesses for $3.35 billion.

Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis

Hormel Foods encountered considerable operational challenges during the COVID-19 outbreak. In April 2020, health authorities in Rochelle, Illinois, ordered the closure of the local plant after 24 employees tested positive for the virus. Soon afterwards, Hormel suspended operations at three more meat processing facilities, including the Alma Foods site in Kansas and the Don Miguel Foods plant in Dallas, Texas—a collaborative venture with Mexico's Herdez Del Fuerte—together employing approximately 700 workers and producing pork, beef, and chicken burritos and tacos. Additionally, two Jennie-O turkey plants located in Willmar, Minnesota, with a workforce exceeding 1,200, were shut down following confirmed infections.

In October 2020, Hormel demonstrated creative marketing by distributing bacon-scented face masks as part of a charitable campaign, showcasing innovative brand engagement amid the pandemic.

Chronology of Leadership

George A. Hormel	1891–1926
Jay C. Hormel	1926–1954
H.H. Corey	1954–1965
R.F. Gray	1965–1968
M.B. Thompson	1968–1972
I.J. Holton	1972–1981
Richard Knowlton	1981–1993
Joel Johnson	1993–2006
Jeff Ettinger	2006–2016
James Snee	2016–

MegaMex Foods

Established in 2009 as a partnership between Hormel (United States) and Herdez del Fuerte (Mexico), California-based MegaMex Foods specializes in producing, marketing, and distributing Mexican-style sauces and related products for the US market. Its initial brand lineup included well-known names such as Chi-Chi's, La Victoria, Búfalo, Doña María, and Herdez.

MegaMex broadened its product range and enhanced its market position through acquisitions. In 2010, it acquired Don Miguel Foods Corporation, a manufacturer of fresh and frozen Mexican prepared foods including mini tacos, flautas, taquitos, empanadas, and burritos. The subsequent year saw MegaMex purchase Fresherized Foods from Texas, a prominent refrigerated guacamole producer recognized for its Wholly Guacamole, Wholly Salsa, and Wholly Queso brands.

Pursuing further expansion, MegaMex entered the wholesale foodservice arena in 2021 by launching Tres Cocinas—a line of authentic pepper pastes designed to extend its product offerings and service capabilities within the industry.

These strategic initiatives have established MegaMex as a significant competitor in the US Mexican-style food segment, leveraging its robust corporate framework and diverse brand portfolio to enhance revenue streams and market presence.

External links

• Official Hormel website