Armour and Company

Armour and Company

Armour and Company is a former American company and was one of the five leading firms in the meat packing industry. It was founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1867 by the brothers Philip Danforth Armour and Herman Ossian Armour. By 1880, the company had become Chicago's most important business and had helped make the city and its Union Stock Yards the center of the American meatpacking industry.

History

Armour and Company was founded in 1867, when the Armour brothers, Philip and Herman, began a partnership under the name of Armour & Co. The company started with a capital of $125,000, which was increased to $1 million in 1870. The company's first location was at the Union Stock Yards in Chicago, where it began as a wholesale business, selling meats and provisions to grocers, hotels, and boarding houses.

In the late 19th century, Armour and Company expanded its operations to include household products, such as soap, glue, and fertilizer, which were made from by-products of the meatpacking process. The company also began to export its products overseas, establishing a presence in markets such as Europe and South America.

In the early 20th century, Armour and Company faced several challenges, including labor strikes and increased government regulation. Despite these challenges, the company continued to grow and diversify its product offerings. In the 1920s, Armour and Company introduced new products, such as canned meats and frozen foods, which helped to increase its market share.

Legacy

Today, the Armour brand is owned by Pinnacle Foods, which is a subsidiary of Conagra Brands. The Armour brand continues to be used for a variety of meat products, including canned meats, lunch meats, and hot dogs.

See also

• Meat packing industry
• Chicago
• Philip Danforth Armour
• Herman Ossian Armour
• Pinnacle Foods
• Conagra Brands