Hormel Foods Corporation
Company History
Hormel History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1891 in Austin, Minnesota
When was Hormel founded?
Hormel was founded in 1891 in Austin, Minnesota by George A. Hormel, making it 135 years old.
- Founded
- 1891
- Founding place
- Austin, Minnesota
- Founders
- George A. Hormel
- Headquarters today
- Austin, Minnesota
- Milestones documented
- 12 (1891–2026)
- Current CEO
- Jeffrey M. Ettinger
- Acquisitions
- 5
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1891 | George A. Hormel & Company Founded |
| 1937 | SPAM Introduced |
| 1985 | Austin Plant Strike |
| 1993 | Renamed Hormel Foods |
| 2001 | Jennie-O Acquisition |
| 2013 | Skippy Acquisition |
| 2015 | Acquired Applegate Farms |
| 2021 | Planters Acquisition |
| 2025 | CEO Transition |
| 2025 | FY2025 Net Sales of $12.106B |
| 2026 | Brazil Divestiture |
| 2026 | Brakebush Agreement |
- Where was Hormel founded?
- Hormel was founded in Austin, Minnesota in 1891.
- Who founded Hormel?
- Hormel was founded by George A. Hormel.
- When did Hormel start?
- Hormel was founded in 1891.
- How old is Hormel?
- Hormel is 135 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
In 1891 George A. Hormel opened a meatpacking business in a former creamery in Austin, Minnesota, and built it on a reputation for quality pork. His son Jay C. Hormel led the company from 1929 to 1954, introduced the first canned ham and, in 1937, SPAM, which became a WWII staple and a global brand.
Founders
George A. Hormel
George A. Hormel (1860-1946) founded Geo. A. Hormel & Co. in Austin, Minnesota in 1891. He established a small meatpacking facility that heavily emphasized minimizing waste, utilizing every part of the hog. He navigated the company through the severe economic turmoil of the early 20th century, securing its first major national success with the introduction of canned ham, which eventually paved the way for the invention of SPAM by his son, Jay. George Albert Hormel was born on December 4, 1860 and died on June 5, 1946. His stake in the company made him one of the wealthiest Americans of his time. George A. Hormel was born in 1860.
Key Milestones
George A. Hormel & Company Founded
George A. Hormel starts the company in Austin, Minnesota.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgSPAM Introduced
Hormel introduces SPAM, creating one of the world's most recognizable shelf-stable protein brands.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAustin Plant Strike
Workers at the Hormel plant in Austin, Minnesota, went on strike in August 1985 in a dispute that lasted into 1986.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRenamed Hormel Foods
Geo. A. Hormel and Company was renamed Hormel Foods Corporation in 1993.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgJennie-O Acquisition
Hormel expands its turkey platform through Jennie-O Turkey Store.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgSkippy Acquisition
Hormel acquires Skippy, adding a major peanut-butter brand to the portfolio.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAcquired Applegate Farms
Hormel Foods acquired Applegate Farms for $775 million. Hormel executed a strategic acquisition of Applegate Farms for $775 million to capture the rapidly growing consumer demand for natural, organic, and antibiotic-free premium meat products.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgPlanters Acquisition
Hormel acquires the Planters snack nuts portfolio from Kraft Heinz.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgCEO Transition
John Ghingo is elevated to president and Jeffrey M. Ettinger becomes interim CEO effective July 14, 2025.
Source: hormelfoods.comFY2025 Net Sales of $12.106B
Hormel reports FY2025 net sales of $12.106 billion and net earnings attributable to Hormel Foods of $478.197 million.
Source: sec.govBrazil Divestiture
Hormel agreed to sell its Brazil (Ceratti) business in Q3 fiscal 2026; the sale closed early in Q4.
Source: prnewswire.comBrakebush Agreement
Hormel agreed to buy value-added chicken company Brakebush Brothers for about $1.055 billion.
Source: foodprocessing.comMajor Acquisitions
Jennie-O Turkey Store
2001Hormel acquired The Turkey Store and merged it with its existing Jennie-O subsidiary to create the Jennie-O Turkey Store, expanding its vertically integrated turkey platform into a dominant national brand.
Skippy
2013Hormel intentionally acquired the Skippy peanut butter brand from Unilever for approximately $700 million to add an internationally recognized non-meat brand and strengthen its high-margin, shelf-stable retail grocery portfolio.
Applegate Farms
2015Hormel executed a strategic acquisition of Applegate Farms for $775 million to capture the rapidly growing consumer demand for natural, organic, and antibiotic-free premium meat products.
Planters
2021In its largest historical transaction, Hormel acquired the well-known Planters snack-nuts portfolio from Kraft Heinz for an astonishing $3.35 billion, intentionally expanding into the lucrative nuts and on-the-go snacking categories at a national scale.
Brakebush Brothers
2026Agreement announced Sept. 30, 2026 to buy the family-owned value-added chicken company for about $1.055 billion in cash.
Keep researching Hormel
Hormel Company History FAQ
What are the major historical milestones in the evolution of Hormel Foods?
Key milestones include Geo. A. Hormel's founding in 1891, the creation of the world's first canned ham in 1926, the launch of SPAM in 1937, the establishment of The Hormel Foundation in 1941, surviving the historic 1985 strike, and the 21st-century acquisitions of Skippy (2013), Applegate (2015), and Planters (2021).
How did Hormel support the war effort during World War II?
During World War II, Hormel dedicated over 65% of its production to military contracts, supplying hundreds of millions of pounds of SPAM, dehydrated foods, and canned meat rations to American, British, Soviet, and Allied soldiers across Europe and the Pacific.
What was the landmark 1985 to 1986 Hormel strike in Austin, Minnesota?
The 1985 to 1986 strike by Local P-9 of the United Food and Commercial Workers against Hormel's Austin plant was one of the most publicized labor disputes in U.S. history, culminating in the deployment of the Minnesota National Guard and inspiring the Academy Award-winning documentary 'American Dream.'
When did Hormel officially change its corporate name to Hormel Foods Corporation?
In 1993, Geo. A. Hormel & Co. officially changed its corporate name to Hormel Foods Corporation to reflect its transformation from a regional slaughterhouse and meatpacker into a diversified national and global food manufacturing conglomerate.
What is the SPAM Museum and where is it located?
The SPAM Museum is an interactive, world-famous visitor attraction located in downtown Austin, Minnesota. Opened in its current modern facility in 2016, the museum celebrates the history, wartime impact, and global pop-culture phenomenon of SPAM.
How has Hormel's product portfolio changed over the last 50 years?
Hormel transitioned from a heavy reliance on fresh commodity pork and beef carloads in the 1970s into a multi-category branded CPG leader focused on snacking, nut butters, ethnic salsas, organic deli cuts, and ready-to-eat microwaveable meals.
When was the Hormel Institute established and what is its mission?
The Hormel Institute was founded in 1942 as a collaborative biomedical research center between Hormel Foods, The Hormel Foundation, and the University of Minnesota, specializing in cancer biology and high-quality cellular health research.
What is Hormel's long-term vision for the next century of food production?
Hormel aims to lead sustainable global food production by expanding nutrient-dense protein offerings, implementing AI-driven predictive supply chain logistics, investing in regenerative farming practices, and expanding its global snacking footprint.
How did Hormel start?
Hormel was founded in 1891 by George A. Hormel in Austin, Minnesota. He borrowed $500 to open a small slaughterhouse and meat packing facility. He was highly obsessed with efficiency and hygiene, heavily pioneering the modern assembly-line processing of pork, which allowed his company to survive the brutal economic crashes of the late 19th century.
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