Read about the milestones, landmarks, and notable events that have comprised McCormick history and allowed us to become the world's leading flavor experts.
1980 In May 1980 Sandoz, was sued by McCormick. By September, Sandoz agreed to drop its effort and to sell its stock holdings. Sales surpassed $500 million. Three frozen foods units (McCormick Foods, Astro Foods, and Golden West Foods) were joined in a subsidiary headquarted in Salinas, Calif., and became Golden West Foods.
1981 Setco, Inc., producer of stock and custom-designed plastic bottles in Culver City, Calif., was purchased as a subsidiary for $7 million to enhance McCormick's packaging and distribution capabilities. Stange Co., of Chicago, which makes specialty flavorings and colorings for industrial and institutional food processing industry, was purchased as a subsidiary for $24 million. McCormick purchased majority shares of Etablissements Maurice Daniel, McCormick's licensee in France since 1962, and France's third largest spice retailer.
1982 Stange Co. and McCormick Flavor Division merged. McCormick-Stange Flavor Division based in Hunt Valley, Md. Golden West Foods moved its headquarters from Salinas, Calif., to Bedford, VA. Erskine N. White, Jr., E.N. White Management Corp and James S. Cook, L.G. Balfour Corp were elected to the Company's Board of Directors. (The first outside director since 1968.) McCormick observed the 50th anniversary of Multiple Management. McCormick purchased majority interest (70%) of Produtos Alimenticios Linguanotto, Ltda., a Brazilian spice packer based in Sao Paulo for $2 million. McCormick Construction Company, Inc., formed as a design/build subsidiary of McCormick Properties.
1983 Club House Foods, Inc., a Canadian subsidiary, observed its 100th anniversary. McCormick Properties sold Executive Plaza Office Center and interest in Hunt Valley Inn to Prudential Insurance Company of America A new R&D Technical Center was completed in Hunt Valley.
1984 Spice Classics was introduced to provide stronger McCormick in non-grocery retail outlets. McCormick and N.P.I. of Salt Lake City (formerly known as Native Plants, Inc.) completed agreements for study of the genetic restructuring of onions. Paterson Jenks, a publicly held United Kingdom corporation, was acquired for approximately $54 million. This marked the largest acquisition in McCormick history. It later became part of McCormick U.K. The Company acquired the Schwartz® brand name, the largest spice line in the United Kingdom. McCormick was included in the business book, "The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America."
1985 Setco, Inc., purchased the assets of Poly-Vue Plastics Corporation of Petaluma, Calif. Gilroy Foods, Inc., purchased the assets of Geothermal Food Processors, Inc., of Brady's Hot Springs, Nev. McCormick's C-Day Program is honored with Presidential Citation during White house ceremony.
1986 Setco moved into a new plant in Anaheim, Calif., the largest injection blow-molding operation in the world. Ground was broken for a $92 million, gas-fired cogeneration project for Gilroy Foods, Inc. Tea production shifted to a contract packer in Marietta, Ga. Purchased half interest in Festin Foods Corp. of Carlsbad, Calif., an importer of Mexican foods owned by the Herdez Group, leading Mexican food processor. The Consumer Products Group introduced a restyled retail line of basic spices, seasonings, and flavor products packaged in plastic. McCormick acquired Armanino Farms, the world's largest grower and processor of chives, from G. Armanino & Son, Inc., of San Francisco, Calif.
1987 Charles P. McCormick, Jr., elected President and Chief Executive Officer. Bailey A. Thomas elected Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. McCormick changed the Unsung Heroes Banquet to mid-May and expanded format to include female honorees for basketball. Purchased Classic American Foods Brennan's of New Orleans brand of Cajun/Creole foods. Grocery Products Division name officially changed to McCormick/Schilling Division. Acquisitions included Gentry Foods in Gilroy, producer of dehydrated onions and garlic; Parsley Patch in Windsor, salt-free and sugar-free spice blends; and The Herb Farm in Encinitas, all in Calif. Company reached $1 billion in sales.
1988 Stange Canada of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, acquired Flavor Ingredients Limited (also known as Food Ingredients), also of Mississauga. Charles P. McCormick, Jr. is elected Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Bailey A. Thomas is elected President and Chief Operating Officer. All real estate properties, including property holdings in downtown Baltimore, were offered for sale as one package. Stock split 2-for-1 in both classes of common stock. The repurchase program of up to 5% of outstanding shares was announced. On November 20, McCormick announced a two-for-one split of both classes of its common stock and its fourth dividend increase since March of 1988. William E. Stevens, President & CEO, United Industries of St. Louis elected to the Board of Directors.
1989 The retail spice business of Crescent Foods, Inc. of Seattle, Wash. was purchased. Club House Foods, Inc. and Stange Canada, Inc. were combined to form McCormick Canada, Inc. McCormick celebrated its centennial year with a series of events throughout the year. The activities were primarily focused on McCormick employees, those who are truly responsible for McCormick's success and longevity. To recognize the anniversary, the Company produced an historic cookbook entitled "The 100 Best Recipes for 100 Years from McCormick". In conjunction with Avalon Hill, McCormick also created a board game, "The Spice Trading Game by McCormick." To aid in the effort to improve literacy in Baltimore, McCormick gave a $2-million endowment to "The City That Reads" program. The Company also arranged for the musical group "Up With People" to provide a series of performances across the country for organizations like schools, churches and hospitals. As part of the performances, the group sang a song specially written for the centennial, "McCormick has the Recipe."