Indian Packing Company
 | |
| Industry | Canned meat |
|---|---|
| Founded | July 22, 1919 in Delaware, US |
| Defunct | 1921 |
| Successor | Acme Packing Company |
Key people | |
The Indian Packing Company was a United States-based canned meat manufacturer that operated between 1919 and 1921. Established in Delaware, the company ran several production sites nationwide, including a facility in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It was eventually absorbed by the Acme Packing Company, which discontinued its operations in 1943 amid World War II resource constraints. Indian Packing is historically significant due to its association with the Green Bay Packers NFL franchise. Co-founder Curly Lambeau, employed as a shipping clerk at Indian Packing in 1919, played a pivotal role in naming the team "Packers" after securing access to the company’s athletic grounds and financial backing for equipment. Although the company itself was short-lived, its legacy continues through the football organization.
History
Formed as a corporation in Delaware on July 22, 1919, Indian Packing Company obtained a patent earlier that year for its "Council Meats" product line, promoted under the slogan "A Market on Your Pantry Shelf." The firm operated state-of-the-art packing plants located in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Rhode Island. Council Meats gained considerable recognition and were actively promoted within the canned meat sector.
Merger with Acme Packing
In December 1920, Acme Packing Company declared its intent to acquire all assets of Indian Packing Company, subject to shareholder consent. The transaction was completed by January 1921, with Acme valued at $12 million. Leadership of the merged enterprise was assumed by C. E. Martin, Acme’s president, who sought to realize substantial operational efficiencies. Following the merger, most employees of Indian Packing retired from their roles. The Acme Packing Company ultimately ceased operations in 1943 during World War II, alongside numerous other meatpacking businesses.
Green Bay Packers
In 1919, businessman Curly Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun established a football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Lambeau, working as a shipping clerk at Indian Packing Company, obtained financial support from company president Frank Peck to launch the team. The company provided funding for equipment and access to practice fields adjacent to its packing plant.
The team entered the American Professional Football Association (later renamed the NFL) in 1921. After Indian Packing merged with Acme Packing, franchise rights were transferred to John and Emmett Clair of Acme. When player eligibility problems led to a franchise suspension, Lambeau personally revived the team under his management. The nickname "Packers," derived from the meatpacking industry roots of the team’s founders, has persisted despite other proposed names.
Notable executives involved in the Packers’ early financial and operational support included Frank Jonet—former secretary-treasurer employed by Acme Packing—and Wally Ladrow, an original player who also worked for Indian Packing. The Packers’ origins in meatpacking are commemorated along the Packers Heritage Trail.
In 2000, PETA raised objections to the team name due to its connection with meat processing.