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1886 - The Del Monte Name Premieres
While the exact origin of "Del Monte" is lost to lore, the name was used in the 1880s by an Oakland, California, foods distributor to designate a premium blend of coffee prepared especially for the elegant Hotel Del Monte on the Monterey peninsula.
1892- The Del Monte® Brand is Introduced
The Del Monte® brand is introduced when the firm expanded its business and selected Del Monte as the brand name for its new line of canned peaches.
1898 - California Fruit Canners Association Forms
Eighteen West Coast canning companies merged to form California Fruit Canners Association. The Del Monte® brand was one of several premium brands marketed by the new company.
1906 - Earthquake Devastates San Francisco
The 1906 Earthquake and its fire devastated most of San Francisco, including the city's food processing facilities. Within a year, the California Fruit Canners Association, a Del Monte Foods predecessor company, built a new cannery and warehouse. Many of the bricks used in the construction of the 380,000 square foot plant were salvaged from destroyed buildings.
Called "Del Monte Plant No. 1", the facility was heralded as the largest fruit and vegetable cannery in the world, employing 2,500 people and producing 200,000 cans of
Del Monte® brand food per day. Plant No. 1 is now known as the Cannery at Del Monte Square and houses a popular hotel and shopping complex in the heart of San Francisco's famous Fishermen's Wharf.
1909 - The Del Monte Shield is Introduced
The Del Monte Shield makes its first appearance on a can label.
1911 - Packaging Innovations Abound
The "sanitary" three-piece can replaces hand-soldered containers, ushering in the era of modern, mechanized canning.
1916 - Calpak is Formed
CFCA consolidated its business with three other large canners to create California Packing Corporation ("Calpak"). The Del Monte® brand takes center stage as the new company's strategy is to offer one high-quality brand, advertise nationally and distribute products nationally.
1917 - Advertising Milestone
The company becomes the first U.S. fruit and vegetable processor to advertise nationally with the first Del Monte® brand advertisement appearing in the Saturday Evening Post on April 17.
1920 - The Del Monte Guarantee
Calpak establishes stringent quality specifications for its premium brand, Del Monte®. Early ads assure customers "Not a label, but a guarantee."
1940 - Glass Packaging is Introduced
Fruits and vegetables in glass introduced.
1945- Calpak Expands
Calpak begins a $50 million postwar expansion program. The widespread use of pallet-based storage in Calpak warehouses revolutionizes the distribution process.
1955 - New Products Introduced
Del Monte® Pineapple Grapefruit Drink is introduced and becomes an overnight success. Del Monte® Stewed Tomatoes — inspired by the recipe of an employee's mother-becomes an instant classic.
1967 - Calpak Becomes Del Monte Corporation
Calpak changes its name to Del Monte Corporation.
1971 - Del Monte the First to Adopt Nutritional Labeling
Del Monte becomes the first major U.S. food processor to voluntarily adopt nutritional labeling on all its food products, an innovation that makes headlines across the country.
Mid 1970's - StarKist Seafoods Adopts "Dolphin Safe" Fishing Practices
Star-Kist Foods, Inc., which is later acquired by Del Monte, played a key role in adapting and promoting the use of special "dolphin safe" tuna fishing nets and techniques that subsequently became an important aspect of the StarKist® line of tuna products.
1979 - Del Monte is Acquired by R.J. Reynolds
Del Monte Corporation is acquired by R.J. Reynolds Industries (later RJR Nabisco).
1990 - RJR Nabisco Sells Del Monte
RJR Nabisco sells former Del Monte Corporation units separately. Del Monte Foods — domestic processed fruit, vegetable and tomato products operations-is purchased by investor group led by Merrill Lynch.
1997 - Texas Pacific Group Purchases Del Monte
Texas Pacific Group purchases Del Monte Foods. Contadina® brand is added to Del Monte Foods portfolio.
1998 - Del Monte Business in Venezuela is Reacquired
Del Monte business in Venezuela is reacquired together with rights to Del Monte® brand in South America.
1999 - Del Monte Foods Company Begins Trading on the NYSE
Shares of Del Monte Foods Company begin trading on the New York and Pacific Stock Exchanges under the DLM ticker symbol.
2000 - SunFresh® Brand is Acquired
Worldwide rights to the SunFresh® brand of premium citrus and tropical fruits are acquired.
2001 - S&W® Brand is Acquired
Worldwide rights to the S&W® brand of processed fruit, vegetable, tomato and
specialty sauce products are acquired.
2002 - Del Monte Nearly Triples In Size
Del Monte completes its largest transaction by acquiring these former businesses from H.J. Heinz Company: the pet food and pet snacks businesses in the U.S. and Canada; the North American seafood business; the U.S. retail private label soup and gravy businesses; the U.S. College Inn® broth business; and the U.S. infant feeding business — nearly tripling its size and elevating its preeminence in the food and pet products business.
2004 - Del Monte Square is Dedicated
Del Monte Foods plays a major role in revitalizing the historic waterfront area of San Francisco that includes the site of its former Plant No. 1, once the world's largest fruit and vegetable cannery. On September 28, 2004, this historic site is officially dedicated as Del Monte Square.
Acquisition of Industrias Citricolas de Montemorelos, S.A. de C.V. (ICMOSA) of Mexico is completed.
2006 - Del Monte Becomes Second Largest Pet Foods Company
Del Monte sells its U.S. retail private label soup and gravy businesses and its U.S. infant feeding business. The Company acquires Meow Mix® and Milk-Bone® brands to become the second largest company in the pet industry.