Del Monte Foods

For the community in California, see Del Monte, California.

Del Monte Foods

Type	Private
Industry	Processed food
Founded	San Francisco, California
Headquarters	San Francisco, California, United States
Area served	United States, Canada, South America, Middle East and Indian Subcontinent
Key people	Richard G. Wolford (Chairman), (President) & (CEO)
Products	Canned fruit, Canned vegetables, Broth, Sauce, Fruit cups, Pet food, Pet snacks, and more.
Owner(s)	Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Vestar Capital Partners and Centerview Partners
Employees	5,400 (2009)
Website	DelMonte.com

Del Monte Foods is an American food production and distribution company headquartered in San Francisco, California. Del Monte Foods is one of the country's largest producers, distributors and marketers of branded food and pet products for the U.S. retail market, generating approximately $3.6 billion in net sales in fiscal 2009. Its portfolio of brands includes Del Monte, S&W, Contadina, College Inn, Meow Mix, Kibbles 'n Bits, 9Lives, Milk-Bone, Pup-Peroni, Meaty Bone, Snausages and Pounce. Several Del Monte products hold the number one or two market share position.^[1] The Company also produces, distributes and markets private label food and pet products.

History

In the 1870s and 1880s, California became a major producer of fruits and vegetables. In 1886, the Del Monte name premiered, originally used in the 1880s by an Oakland, California, foods distributor to designate a premium blend of coffee prepared for the Hotel Del Monte on the Monterey peninsula. By 1892, the Del Monte brand was introduced when the firm expanded its business and selected Del Monte as the brand name for its new line of canned peaches. In 1898, the California Fruit Canners Association (CFCA) formed when 18 West Coast canning companies merged.^[2] The Del Monte brand was one of several brands marketed by the new company. It introduced the Del Monte Shield in 1909.^[3]

Under the leadership of George Newell Armsby, in 1916 CFCA added two more canners and a food brokerage house, incorporated itself as California Packing Corporation, or Calpak, and began marketing its products under the Del Monte brand. The new company grew to operate more than 60 canneries in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Alaska. In 1917, it acquired pineapple farms and a cannery in Hawaii and, in the 1920s, added canneries in Florida and the Midwest, as well as in the Philippines. After WWII, it constructed or purchased more facilities overseas.^[4] These multinational operations made the name California Packing Corporation obsolete, and in June 1967, the corporation adopted the name of its leading brand to become Del Monte Corporation.^[5]

In 1972, Del Monte became the first major US food processor to voluntarily adopt nutritional labeling on all its food products, an innovation that made headlines throughout the country and applauded by government officials as a breakthrough in consumer education.

Del Monte became part of R.J. Reynolds Industries, Inc. (later RJR Nabisco, Inc.) in 1979. Ten years later, the fresh fruit business was sold and renamed Fresh Del Monte Produce. Although no longer affiliated with Del Monte Foods, Del Monte Produce continued to market pineapples, bananas, and other produce under a licensing agreement for the Del Monte label. RJR Nabisco sold the remaining food processing divisions, known as Del Monte Foods, to private investors in 1989. Del Monte Foods again became a publicly traded company in 1999, and in 2002, it purchased several brands from US food giant Heinz in an all-stock transaction that left Heinz shareholders with 74.5% of Del Monte and original Del Monte shareholders with 25.5% of the company, and nearly tripled Del Monte Foods size.^[6]

Del Monte acquired the worldwide rights to the SunFresh brand, a brand of premium citrus and tropical fruits, in 2000.^[3] In March of the following year, it acquired the worldwide rights to the S&W brand of processed fruit, vegetable, tomato and specialty sauce products.^[7]

On September 28, 2004, the site of Del Monte's former Plant No. 1 was dedicated as Del Monte Square. It was once the world’s largest fruit and vegetable cannery.

In 2006, Del Monte became the second largest pet foods company upon divesting its US infant feeding business and US retail private label soup and gravy businesses and acquiring two key pet brands. The company sold its Soup and Infant Feeding business in April 2006 to TreeHouse Foods, Inc.^[8] Del Monte bought Meow Mix in May 2006,^[9] and acquired Milk-Bone in July of that year from Kraft Foods.^[10]

As precautionary measure, in 2007 Del Monte declared a voluntarily recall of several of brands of its pet foods due to the 2007 pet food recalls.^[11]

In June 2008, Del Monte announced the sale of its seafood division, StarKist, to South Korea-based Dongwon Enterprise Company. Dongwon purchased the business for $363 million. Del Monte stated that StarKist was no longer a good fit for the company and that they would be concentrating on pet food and higher margin produce.^[12]

On March 8, 2011, the company announced it had been acquired by an investor group led by funds affiliated with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Vestar Capital Partners and Centerview Partners. The stock was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange prior to the start of trading on March 9, 2011.^[13]

Del Monte Foods worldwide

Del Monte Foods plant

Pittsburgh

Del Monte Foods markets packaged food products under the Del Monte brand in the United States and South America. Del Monte Foods is not affiliated with Fresh Del Monte Produce, Inc., Del Monte International or their subsidiaries or affiliates. Del Monte maintains a major sale in India and has also received acclaim due to its unique Advertising.

Criticism and controversy

In January 2007, Del Monte Foods was wrongly accused of opposing efforts by the United States Congress to apply the continental minimum wage to the lower-paying tuna packing plants in American Samoa. On January 16, 2007, Melissa Murphy Brown, spokesperson for Del Monte, stated that the application would "severely cripple the local economy." She also stated that "For over 50 years, the Federal Department of Labor has provided that wages in U.S. territories, including American Samoa, be set by a federally appointed wage board, following public hearings".^[14]

Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was the subject of false claims in chain e-mails and on web sites such as Gateway Pundit,^[15] Newsbusters,^[16] claiming that she or her husband own stock in Del Monte and that she has thus pushed for keeping the tax loophole for Del Monte.^[17] Pelosi has not received any contributions from Del Monte employees.^[18]

In 2009, Del Monte Foods provided the following clarification to news outlets reporting misinformation about its relationship with Speaker Pelosi:

First, Del Monte Foods no longer owns StarKist. The brand was officially sold to Dongwon Industries in early October, 2008.

Secondly, Del Monte Foods is not “a major contributor to Pelosi.” Del Monte has not contributed to Speaker Pelosi. Because Del Monte Foods does not operate a Political Action Committee (a requirement for federal election donations), the Company has not made a direct political contribution to any elected official or candidate for office.

Finally, regarding the issue of minimum wage in American Samoa, Del Monte Foods has not lobbied Speaker Pelosi’s office nor participated in any lobbying regarding the financial bailout bill. Specifically, the Company did not participate in any lobbying regarding any American Samoa provisions that were included in the bailout bill.^{[citation needed]}

In March 2011, Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. voluntarily recalled 4,992 cartons of cantaloupes. The FDA has linked the cantaloupes to a Salmonella Panama outbreak in the United States. As of March 29, 2011 there were 13 reported cases in Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado and Maryland.^[19]

Pop culture references

• Del Monte produced an iconic advertising campaign in the 1980s with the catchphrase "The Man from Del Monte he says YES". The man from Del Monte was portrayed by British actor Brian Jackson.
• During The Troubles in Ireland, the Unionist political slogan, "Ulster says no!" was mocked by nationalists who added "...and the man from Del Monte says yes." This was in response to the Del Monte advertising campaign at the time. In a related incident, a gable wall in Belfast was painted with a huge mural supporting Rev Ian Paisley's "Ulster Says No To Sodomy" campaign (which opposed the legalisation of homosexuality in in Northern Ireland). The graffiti "But the man from DelMonte says Yes!" soon appeared in response.
• On The Simpsons, Mr. Burns hires an assassin to kill Grampa Simpson and delivers a picture of Grampa eating Del Monte canned peas. The assassin remarks, 'Ah, Del Monte. Enjoy them old man, they will be your last!"
• On The Simpsons, Kent Brockman proclaims, while showing off one of his many vacuous awards, "This is the most prestigious award that Del Monte gives."
• On Pee-wee's Playhouse, the picture phone has a Del Monte can. The logo does not have the words 'Del Monte', but is solid red within the Del Monte symbol. There is also a cat in the fruit cocktail.^[20]
• In the comic strip Bloom County, Opus once agreed to an absurd bargain over a case of "Del Monte herring entrails."
• In the UK, between 1996–98, Del Monte's now defunct popular fruit drink at the time, Fruit Burst, sponsored Gladiators.
• On the website of satirical newspaper The Onion, in a video about the fake takeover of the United States Government staged in order to excuse the federal government from paying off the national debt, the rebel leader's name is Octavius Del Monte.
• Snausages were featured in the 1983 episode of VH1's I Love the '80s Strikes Back.
• Popular characters from a 1980s Del Monte promotion, the Country Yumkins, appeared in parades, including a Ringling Bros. elephant walk.
• Robert Duvall's character in The Road eats a can of Del Monte fruit.

Del Monte Foods products

Del Monte Organic Cut Green Beans

Milk-Bone Medium Biscuits

Consumer brands

• Del Monte
  • Fresh Cut
  • Orchard Select
  • SunFresh
  • Superfruit
  • Fruit Naturals
  • Fruit Chillers
  • Fruit Undressed
• S&W
• Contadina
• College Inn

Pet brands

• Milk-Bone
• Kibbles 'n Bits
• 9Lives
• Meow Mix
• Pounce
• Pup-Peroni
• Snausages
• Nature's Recipe
• Meaty Bone
• Gravy Train
• Canine Carry Outs
• Jerky Treats

Images

• 

  Del Motne Petite Cut No Salt Added Diced Tomatoes

• 

  Pounce Moist Chicken cat treats

• 

  Kibbles 'n Bits is one of Del Monte Foods' pet brands

• 

  Del Monte Lite Pear Halves

• 

  1932 magazine advertisement for a variety of canned fruit products.

References

1. ^ "Investor Fact Sheet". Del Monte Foods. September 2011. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9MTA4ODg1fENoaWxkSUQ9LTF8VHlwZT0z&t=1. Retrieved 2011-11-08. 
2. ^ "The Corporation". History San Jose. http://www.historysanjose.org/cannerylife/canned-topics/corporation.html. Retrieved 2011-11-07. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Our History". Del Monte Foods. http://www.delmontefoods.com/company/default.aspx?page=oc_ourhistory. Retrieved 2011-11-07. 
4. ^ William Braznell (1982). California's finest: The history of the Del Monte Corporation and the Del Monte brand. San Francisco: Del Monte Corp.. 
5. ^ Chris Carlsson. "Del Monte Foods". San Francisco Museum and Historical Society. http://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Del_Monte_Foods. Retrieved 2011-11-07. 
6. ^ "Del Monte absorbs Heinz brands". FoodNavigator.com. 14 June 2002. http://www.foodnavigator.com/Financial-Industry/Del-Monte-absorbs-Heinz-brands. Retrieved 2011-11-08. 
7. ^ "A Fine Recipe". S&W Fine Foods. http://www.swfinefoods.com/about/history.html. Retrieved 2011-11-07. 
8. ^ "Del Monte Foods Completes Sale of Private Label Soup and Infant Feeding Businesses to TreeHouse Foods, Inc." (Press release). Del Monte Foods. 24 April 2006. 
9. ^ "Del Monte Foods Completes Meow Mix Acquisition" (Press release). Del Monte Foods. 19 May 2006. 
10. ^ "Del Monte Foods Completes Acquisition of Milk-Bone". Del Monte Foods. 3 July 2006. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=86259&p=irol-mediaArticle&ID=878496&highlight=. Retrieved 2011-11-08. 
11. ^ "Del Monte Pet Products Voluntarily Withdraws Specific Product Codes of Pet Treats and Wet Dog Food Products" (Press release). Del Monte Foods. 31 March 2007. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=86259&p=irol-mediaArticle&ID=980494&highlight=. Retrieved 2011-11-08. 
12. ^ "Del Monte sells seafood unit to Korea's Dongwon". USA Today (USA Today.com). 30 June 2008. http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2008-06-30-343975481_x.htm. Retrieved 2011-11-08. 
13. ^ "Welcome to the Del Monte Foods Investor Relations section of Delmontefoods.com" (Press release). Del Monte Foods. 8 March 2011. http://investors.delmonte.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=86259&p=irol-irhome. Retrieved 2011-11-08. 
14. ^ {"Pelosi moves to close Samoa wage loophole". The Washington Times (WashingtonTimes.com). 13 January 2007. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2007/jan/13/20070113-122725-2957r/. Retrieved 2011-11-08. 
15. ^ Jim Hoft (13 January 2007). "Well, Lookie Here… Paul Pelosi Is "Primary" Del Monte Investor!". Gateway Pundit. http://gatewaypundit.rightnetwork.com/2007/01/well-lookie-here-paul-pelosi-is-primary-del-monte-investor/. Retrieved 2011-11-08. 
16. ^ Tom Blumer (12 January 2007). "Catch of the Day: The Pelosi-Samoa Connections May Be Even Deeper". http://newsbusters.org/node/10131. Retrieved 2011-11-08. 
17. ^ Brooks Jackson (14 January 2009). "Sliming Pelosi". FactCheck.org. http://www.factcheck.org/politics/sliming_pelosi.html. Retrieved 2011-11-08. 
18. ^ Jess Henig (26 November 2008). "Special Favors from Nancy Pelosi?". FactCheck.org. http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/did_nancy_pelosi_get_wage_breaks_and.html. Retrieved 2011-11-08. 
19. ^ "Del Monte Fresh Produce Voluntarily Recalls Cantaloupes Because Of Possible Health Risk" (Press release). US Food and Drug Administration. 22 March 2011. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm248103.htm. Retrieved 2011-11-08. 
20. ^ Paul Reubens.net^{[dead link]}

External links

	San Francisco Bay Area portal
	Companies portal

• Del Monte Foods Corporation
• Del Monte Solutions – Strech your food dollars.
• Del Monte Foods – Corporate Responsibility
• Del Monte Foods – Investors
• Del Monte Foods – Careers
• Del Monte Foods on Twitter

Del Monte Foods Consumer Brand Sites

• Del Monte Foods
• S&W
• Contadina
• College Inn

Del Monte Foods Pet Brand Sites

• Kibbles 'n Bits
• Milk-Bone
• Pup-Peroni
• Meaty Bone
• Gravy Train
• Canine Carry Outs
• Jerky Treats
• Snausages
• 9Lives
• Meow Mix
• Pounce
• Nature's Recipe