Company Milestones
2020
FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR, CONAGRA BRANDS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE 50 MOST COMMUNITY-MINDED COMPANIES IN THE UNITED STATES
For the second year in a row, named an honoree of The Civic 50 , which recognizes the 50 most community-minded companies in the nation. As a leading food company, Conagra Brands has continued to make a meaningful impact on the pervasive societal issue of hunger.
CONAGRA BRANDS ANNOUNCES SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING GOAL
Conagra Brands will strive toward making 100% of its current plastic packaging renewable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. This goal accompanies current efforts to reduce the overall use of plastic and is part of the company's broader commitment to shaping a Better Planet.
FOR THE SIXTH YEAR IN A ROW, CONAGRA BRANDS EARNS PERFECT 100% SCORE ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN'S ANNUAL CORPORATE EQUALITY INDEX
For the sixth year in a row, recognized by the Human Rights Campaign for earning a perfect 100% score on the annual Corporate Equality Index. Conagra Brands fosters a workplace that’s welcoming to diverse team member backgrounds and identities, including LGBTQ employees.
2019
CONAGRA BRANDS ANNOUNCES PLANS TO BUILD NEW INNOVATION CENTER IN CHICAGO
Located in Chicago, the Conagra Brands Center for Food Design is a state-of-the-art snacking innovation center with up to 50 food designers and culinary staff. The 40,000 square foot innovation center is an expansion of the company's existing state-of-the-art Research & Development and Culinary capabilities and focuses on innovation related to snacking.
CONAGRA BRANDS DIVESTS DIRECT-STORE-DELIVERY MODEL SNACKS BUSINESS
Snacks business which operated under a Direct-Store-Delivery (DSD) model to sold to Utz Quality Foods, LLC. The brands included in the sale: Tim's® Cascade Snacks, Hawaiian® Snacks, Erin's®, El Restaurante®, Snyder® of Berlin, Pop-N-Thin® and Husman's®.
CONAGRA BRANDS DIVESTS GELIT BUSINESS
An Italian-based frozen pasta business headquartered in Doganella di Ninfa, Italy sold to Italian investment company owned by Consilum SGR S.p.A., Progressio SGR S.p.A., and MMM S.r.l. whose reference shareholder is Massimo Menna.
CONAGRA BRANDS DIVESTS LENDER'S BAGEL BUSINESS
Lender's Bagel business sold to Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc., a subsidiary of Grupo Bimbo S.A.B. de C.V.
2018
CONAGRA BRANDS COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF PINNACLE FOODS
Acquisition strengthens Conagra’s portfolio of emerging and leading, iconic brands.
CONAGRA BRANDS DIVESTS CANADIAN DEL MONTE BUSINESS
Processed fruit and vegetable business sold to Bonduelle Group.
CONAGRA BRANDS DIVESTS WESSON BUSINESS
Edible oil business sold to Richardson International.
SANDWICH BROS. OF WISCONSIN ACQUIRED
Conagra Brands acquires maker of frozen breakfast and entrée flatbread pocket sandwiches.
2017
ANGIE’S ARTISAN TREATS ACQUIRED
Conagra Brands acquires maker of Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP ready-to-eat popcorn.
THANASI FOODS, MAKER OF DUKES MEAT SNACKS AND BIGS SEEDS, ACQUIRED
Acquisition brings protein-based snacking business to Conagra Brands portfolio.
2016
CONAGRA FOODS BECOMES CONAGRA BRANDS; BEGINS OPERATING WITH A SHARPENED FOCUS ON CONSUMER BRANDS AND ENHANCING SHAREHOLDER VALUE
ConAgra Foods spins off its Lamb Weston business and changes its name to Conagra Brands, which consists primarily of a branded food portfolio as well as a foodservice business.
CONAGRA FOODS ACQUIRES FRONTERA, RED FORK AND SALPICA BRANDS
New brands bring gourmet Mexican food and contemporary American cooking sauces to Conagra portfolio.
COMPANY HEADQUARTERS MOVES TO CHICAGO
Company headquarters relocates to Chicago, IL with a significant presence remaining in Omaha, NE and facilities across North America.
JM SWANK AND SPICETEC FLAVORS & SEASONINGS DIVESTED
ConAgra Foods divests ingredients distributor and leader in flavors and seasoning blends.
CONAGRA FOODS SELLS PRIVATE LABEL OPERATIONS
ConAgra Foods completes the sale of its private label operations to TreeHouse Foods.
CONAGRA FOODS NAMED TO DOW JONES SUSTAINABILITY NORTH AMERICAN INDEX FOR SIXTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
The company and its employees have a strong track record of environmental stewardship, advocacy for food safety and quality, and building stronger communities.
CONAGRA BRANDS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES YEAR FIVE OF ITS CAUSE MARKETING CAMPAIGN CHILD HUNGER ENDS HERE
Conagra wraps up its successful five year cause marketing campaign “Child Hunger Ends Here” which engaged millions of consumers and resulted in the donation of over 10 Million meals over the course of the campaign.
2015
BLAKE’S ALL NATURAL ACQUIRED
Blake’s All Natural, maker of natural and organic frozen pot pies, casseroles, and pasta dishes, is acquired.
2014
ARDENT MILLS BEGINS OPERATIONS
Ardent Mills, an independent joint venture of its three parent companies – ConAgra Foods, Cargill, and CHS begins operating as a premier flour milling company.
CONAGRA FOODS FOUNDATION PROVIDES $10 MILLION THREE-YEAR GRANT TO FEEDING AMERICA
The three-year grant funds vital Feeding America child hunger initiatives including Child Hunger Corps, Hunger Free Summer, Summer Feeding Hubs, Child Hunger Venture Fund, and Feeding More Children National Support.
2013
CONAGRA FOODS ACQUIRES RALCORP
ConAgra Foods acquires Ralcorp, the leading producer of private label foods. The private label operations are later divested to sharpen the company’s focus on building value for shareholders.
2012
BERTOLLI AND P.F. CHANG’S ACQUIRED
ConAgra Foods expands its family of brands with the acquisition of the Bertolli and P.F. Chang’s Home Menu frozen meals businesses.
ODOM’S TENNESSEE PRIDE ACQUIRED
ConAgra Foods expands further into the breakfast food category with the acquisition of Odom’s Tennessee Pride — maker of roll sausage, breakfast sandwiches and more.
CONAGRA FOODS ENGAGES ITS BRANDS TO LAUNCH NATIONAL CAUSE MARKETING CAMPAIGN CHILD HUNGER ENDS HERE®
Nineteen ConAgra Foods brands participate in “Child Hunger Ends Here” a comprehensive, nationwide cause marketing campaign to engage consumers, raise awareness of childhood hunger and impact hunger, resulting in the donation of three million meals.
2011
H.K. ANDERSON BRAND ACQUIRED THROUGH ACQUISITION OF NATIONAL PRETZEL COMPANY
2010
ACQUISITION OF MARIE CALLENDER’S AND CLAIM JUMPER BRANDED FROZEN FOODS
ConAgra Foods acquires American Pie, LLC, maker of Marie Callender’s and Claim Jumper frozen desserts.
DIVESTITURE OF GILROY FOODS & FLAVORS
The Gilroy Foods & Flavors dehydrated and vegetable product operations are sold as part of the company’s ongoing strategy of divesting non-core operations.
2009
CONAGRA FOODS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES LARGEST DONATION EVER TO FIGHT CHILD HUNGER WITH FEEDING AMERICA®
ConAgra Foods Foundation's $10 million commitment to Feeding America is the largest donation ever made to fight child hunger with Feeding America, and will help the organization meet the needs of the more than 12 million children in America who are at risk of hunger.
2008
CONAGRA FOODS PROVIDES UNPRECEDENTED NUTRITION LABELING
Simple and unique packaging enhancements are designed to help consumers make better-informed food choices to improve their diet and health.
2007
ACQUISITION OF ALEXIA FOODS, INC.
ConAgra Foods acquires Alexia Foods, a premium brand started by Alex Dzieduszycki, a chef in Manhattan, NY.
ACQUISITION OF LINCOLN SNACKS
ConAgra Foods acquires Chicago-based Lincoln Snacks, best known for Poppycock and Fiddle Faddle.
2006
DIVESTITURE OF BUTTERBALL, ARMOUR, ECKRICH, SWISSROSE and LOUIS KEMP
ConAgra Foods divests meat, seafood and cheese brands divested to create more focus on portfolio aligned with long-term business strategy.
2005
LAUNCH OF NEW AND IMPROVED RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CENTER
ConAgra Foods research and product development groups consolidate into a single, state-of-the-art Center for Research, Quality & Innovation on the company's campus in Omaha, Neb.
2000
CONAGRA, INC. BECOMES CONAGRA FOODS, INC.
ACQUISITION OF INTERNATIONAL HOME BRANDS
Chef Boyardee, PAM cooking spray and Gulden's mustard become part of the ConAgra family.
PARTNERING WITH AMERICA’S SECOND HARVEST
ConAgra partners with America's Second Harvest, now Feeding America, in the largest corporate initiative dedicated solely to solving the problem of childhood hunger in the United States.
1990-1999
CONAGRA BUILDS ITS BRAND PORTFOLIO
A decade of focused investment in consumer brands led to a major shift in the composition of ConAgra. Over the course of the 1990’s, ConAgra’s acquisitions included Hunt’s, Orville Redenbacher’s, Wesson, Swiss Miss, La Choy, ACT II, Hebrew National, Marie Callender’s, Wolf Brand Chili, Van Camp’s, Fleischmann's, Parkay, Blue Bonnet, Egg Beaters, Slim Jim and Pemmican.
CONAGRA BEGINS ITS PHILANTHROPIC COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING THE END OF FOOD INSECURITY
1950-1989
HEALTHY CHOICE CONCEIVED BY CEO MIKE HARPER
When CEO Mike Harper suffers a mild heart attack in 1988, he realizes he needs to change his diet to include foods that satisfy his taste and his health needs. His search leads to the development of Healthy Choice.
ACQUISITION OF BANQUET FOODS COMPANY
ConAgra begins its entry into the frozen food business in 1980 with the acquisition of Banquet Foods Company.
COMPANY’S NAME CHANGES TO CONAGRA
Nebraska Consolidated Mills changes its name to ConAgra, Inc. in 1971.
ORVILLE GETS POPPING
Orville Redenbacher launches his company in 1970, which sells the lighter, fluffier popcorn kernel.
1900-1949
MARIE CALLENDER DELIVERS GREAT FOOD
Marie Callender and her family deliver homemade pies to local restaurants from a little shop in Long Beach, Calif. Marie opens her own restaurants and launches the Marie Callender's frozen food line in 1948.
REDDI-WIP IS AN INSTANT HIT
Aaron "Bunny" Lapin, a St. Louis inventor, develops a special aerosol valve and creates Reddi-wip real whipped cream. Originally distributed by St. Louis milkmen, Reddi-wip becomes an overnight success.
RO-TEL FROM THE ROETTELE FAMILY
Carl Roettele has an idea - marry the richness of delicious vine-ripened tomatoes to the zestiness of green chili peppers. The Roetteles take the idea and opened a small vegetable canning plant in Elsa, Texas in 1943. Worried people couldn't spell or pronounce “Roettele,” Carl uses the name RO*TEL.
BLAKE’S GOES FROM FARM TO TABLE
The recipes and traditions of Blake’s go back to 1929 when Clara Blake was creating her authentic recipes made from scratch with all-natural ingredients. Clara’s family has kept up those traditions, and Blake’s continues her legacy of handcrafted meals using only the best ingredients.
SLIM JIM GETS CRACKING
Entrepreneur Adolph Levis creates Slim Jim in 1929 as the popularity of dried meat products grows.
CHEF BOIARDI’S SECRET SAUCE
Shortly after emigrating from Italy in 1914, Hector Boiardi became head chef at New York’s ritzy Plaza Hotel and the famous Greenbriar Hotel. Chef Boiardi founds Chef Boyardee in 1928 after the popularity of his sauce grows.
DAVID SEEDS IS AMERICA'S SUNFLOWER SEED
In 1926, David Der Herbedian roasts sunflower seeds in his Fresno, Calif., grocery and sells the seeds in bundles for a nickel.
PETER PAN PEANUT BUTTER IS CREATED
Peter Pan Peanut Butter is launched in 1920. Kids love it and parents feel good about serving it.
CONAGRA IS BORN
Nebraska Consolidated Mills (NCM), headquartered in Grand Island, Neb., is incorporated in 1919. The company that will come to be known as Conagra Brands has grown out of four flour mills.
HEBREW NATIONAL ANSWERS TO A HIGHER AUTHORITY
In 1905, the Hebrew National Kosher Sausage Factory, located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, begins processing kosher meats for New York delis. Over the years, Hebrew National has become synonymous with high-quality kosher products, premium ingredients and premium taste.
Pre-1900
WOLF BRAND CHILI
Sixteen year-old Lyman T. Davis first brings his chili to the oil boomtown of Corsicana, TX, in 1895, selling piping hot bowls outside the Blue Front Saloon. Lyman has his pet wolf guard the popular chili.
ONLY THE BEST TOMATOES
In 1890, Joseph and William Hunt found Hunt Brothers Fruit Packing Company in Santa Rosa, CA.
H.K. ANDERSON BAKES WITH A TWIST
America’s love of pretzels originated in the Pennsylvania Dutch region, where H.K. Anderson opens up a storefront bakery in 1888.
VAN CAMP’S PORK AND BEANS FEED AMERICA
In 1861, Indianapolis grocer Gilbert C. Van Camp creates a new canned food product — pork and beans. Gilbert's son, Frank, discovers that pork and beans taste better when mixed with tomatoes and served hot.