Food Entrepreneur - August 17, 2021 - 13

FOOD ENTREPRENEUR®
incubator in Chicago. The company supports
creativity at all levels of the organization
through innovation competitions,
including one held recently for its interns.
" That innovative and entrepreneurial
spirit that shaped an entire industry lives on
today - we like to say innovation breathes
fire into our vision and purpose as a company,
and we continue to innovate as we head
into the next 115 years, " Ms. Bahner said.
A chocolate empire
Prior to popularizing milk chocolate
in America, Milton S. Hershey encountered
a series of setbacks. His first two
businesses had failed. Perfecting the
formulation for his signature product
followed months of trial and error. Driven
by persistence and vision, Mr. Hershey
developed a new process for creating
chocolate, tapping local dairy farms for
fresh milk, and ultimately transforming
an elite treat into an everyday staple for
the masses.
" We steward Mr. Hershey's legacy
of innovation and entrepreneurship by
seeking to add more beloved snacking
brands to our portfolio, " said Ryan O'Hara,
director of strategy at The Hershey Co.
" We continually scan the market for highgrowth,
high-potential brands like Skinny
Pop, and more recently Lily's, to extend
our moments of goodness with new consumers
and new occasions.
" We also invest in startup companies
like Blue Stripe and Quinn that are
uniquely innovating in snacking, and related
capabilities like Bonumose, that are
developing breakthrough technologies to
meet current and future consumer needs. "
Mr. Hershey's achievements extend
beyond the company and surrounding
community he built in his name. He was
a celebrated philanthropist who notably
Milton Hershey
HERSHEY CO.
coined the term " commerce with compassion, "
viewing business as a force for
good. In 1909, he and his wife, Catherine,
founded what would become the Milton
Hershey School to provide education and
opportunity for orphaned boys. He later
transferred the majority of his wealth to
the Milton Hershey School Trust fund.
In 1935, he established the M.S. Hershey
Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to
cultural and educational enrichment.
" Purpose-driven companies are now
becoming more commonplace, but Milton
Hershey started it all over 100 years ago
when it wasn't even popular or on anyone's
radar, " said Brian Lange, a Hershey
plant manager.
A protein pioneer
" Originate, don't imitate, " a key
commandment of George A. Hormel's
business, guides innovation efforts today.
The challenge is imprinted on a wall of
the Hormel Foods Corp. headquarters in
Austin, Minn.
With previous meatpacking experience,
Mr. Hormel established Geo. A.
Hormel & Co. in 1891, setting up pork processing
operations inside an abandoned
creamery. He also opened the Hormel
Provision Market to sell his products. Mr.
Hormel, and later his son Jay C. Hormel,
are credited for pioneering numerous
innovations in food production and
packaging that catapulted the company's
growth in the years that followed. The
younger Hormel oversaw the introduction
of several products, including Dinty
Moore beef stew, Hormel chili and Spam
luncheon meat.
" George Hormel's eagerness to
find and incorporate new approaches
to the business continues today, " said a
spokesperson for Hormel Foods Corp.
" The company's innovation and corporate
development teams scour the globe for
game-changing developments at all levels:
from research labs and startup pitch
competitions to major food shows. When
acquiring companies, Hormel takes great
care to respect each new team's culture
and retain what made it great in the first
place. Applegate, Justin's, Columbus
Meats and Planters are some prime examples
of the success of this approach. "
In 1941, George and Jay Hormel
established The Hormel Foundation, which
ranks fourth in annual charitable giving
among Minnesota's largest community and
public foundations. The following year saw
the opening of the Hormel Institute, today a
cancer research facility.
The actions of the father and son
demonstrate a commitment to employees
and veterans that remains ongoing within
the enterprise. In 1938, Jay Hormel started
a profit-sharing program, which last
year distributed $17.9 million to eligible
hourly and salaried employees. Beginning
with the Spanish-American War of 1898,
George Hormel vowed to re-employ all
returning soldiers who worked at the company
previously. Hormel Foods continues
its support of military personnel through
employee assistance programs and initiatives
such as Operation Gratitude and
Tables of Honor.
" Since the beginning, we've believed
Jay C. Hormel
August 17, 2021
HORMEL FOODS
George A. Hormel
that social responsibility is more than
giving away a percentage of our profits at
the end of the year, " said James P. Snee,
chief executive officer of Hormel Foods
Corp. " While we are committed to many
worthy causes, including cancer research
and fighting childhood hunger, it is our
core business - efficiently producing
delicious food for the world's growing
population - of which we are most
proud. " ▪
Food Business News
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HOREML FOODS, KELLOGG CO. AND HERSHEY CO.
Food Entrepreneur - August 17, 2021

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