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Jennie-O
Product typeTurkey, ground turkey, turkey burgers, turkey tenderloins
OwnerHormel
CountryUnited States
Introduced1940
MarketsIndustry Food processing
Previous ownersEarl B. Olson, founder
Websitewww.jennieo.com
Jennie-O Foods Inc Plant #1, Willmar, Minnesota
Jennie-O processing plant, Willmar, Minnesota

Jennie-O Turkey Store is a brand name of turkey products. It is a subsidiary of the Hormel Foods Corporation in Willmar, Minnesota.

History

The company was founded by Earl B. Olson in 1940, when he began raising turkeys. In 1949, he bought the former Farmers Produce Company of Willmar and its turkey processing plant.[1] In 1953, it was renamed to Jennie-O after his daughter, Jennifer Olson.[2]

Wallace Jerome also played a role in the formation of the current Jennie-O organization. In 1941 Jerome founded the Turkey Store Company.[3]

The company was privately owned by the Olson family until 1986, when it was sold to Hormel Foods, of Austin, Minnesota. In February 2001, Jennie-O Foods, Inc., and The Turkey Store Company, consolidated under Hormel to create the brand Jennie-O Turkey Store.[4]

Locations

Jennie-O has a total of six company locations, five of which are in Minnesota and one in Wisconsin.[5] The Minnesota locations include Willmar/Spicer, Faribault, Montevideo, Pelican Rapids, and Melrose. The only Wisconsin plant is found in Barron.

References

  1. ^ "Earl B. Olson Obit". West Central Tribune. December 13, 2006.
  2. ^ Vezner, Tad (December 12, 2006). "Bad luck spurred Jennie-O founder". Twin Cities.com. Pioneer Press. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  3. ^ "Our History". Jennie-O. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  4. ^ Albala, Ken; Allen, Gary (October 30, 2007). The Business of Food. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood. p. 307. ISBN 978-0313337253.
  5. ^ "Locations". Jennie-O. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-23.
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