The Mail-Journal, Volume 6, Number 52, Milford, Kosciusko County, 28 January 1970 — Page 28

Where Mr. Tomato is king!

Cecil Foods presents real American success story

The story of Cecil Foods. Inc., of Milford, canners of quality tomatoes, tomato sauce and tomato puree, is the story of the American free enterprise system. / From a very humble beginning in 1947 in offices set up in downtown Milford, to the present plant facility that enjoys a market on the East coast from Maine to Miami, through the southland and west to Kansas City, the story of the people that made tomato king is almost legendary. At the present time the company packs in seven different can sizes, employs at a peak production about 300 people who harvest and process tomatoes grown on 500 acres, m lush Van Buren township. Jim Cecil, secretary-treasurer of the firm and manager since the passing of his father. Don Cecil, on November 25. 1969. points to 1967 as the company’s largest year when five million cans were packed The dollar volume of the company exceeds $1 million dollars per year. What kind of market does a company like this have? How are First National Stores, Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company and

Brand / LOCALLY OWNED / LOCALLY OPERATED Where The Tomato Receives “Tender, Loving Care.” 5 •• •

■ 0 ’ Packer* Os Fancy, Whole Tomatoes, Tomato Juice & Tomato Puree Member CECIL F»(®DS, Inc. - PACKERS OF FINE QUALITY TOMATOES - PHONE: 65&4131 MILFORD, IND.

K WoMKgd

Krogers for starters’’ Then you can add Sextons, the U.S. Army and Veterans' Administration to the list. And there are many other customers for whom the company labels cans. Joined By Son In the spring of 1948 Don Cecil was joined by his son Jim. and an unbeatable father-son team went to work to expand their business. Each year has seen new additions made at the canning plant at Milford until its growth had

become a sprawling complex of buildings and tomato lines. Don Cecil surveyed the crop conditions in the Milford area over a 25-year period, before deciding where to locate his new plant. Studies of the soil and climatic conditions concerning the growing of tomatoes were made by some of the top-ranking agronomists of the country. Sell Stock Then in 1955 the company was incorporated with an

I I LrulJMkob ll JU <*■» I ' - ■ W SKani n rr wtif r* I f -B® 4

authorization to sell 500 shares of SIOO par value 6 per cent preferred stock. Part of this was subscribed to locally to increase working capital of the firm, with theremainder held in reserve for future expansion. Part of. this expansion included a huge warehouse where fork lifts are used to store cans to ceiling height | ready for labeling. Housing units for migrant field workers were added and tomato peeling lines expanded. Quickly the company expanded its line df

products to include tomato juice, sauce and puree. The late Don Cecil liked to say his company gave the individual tomato “tender, loving care,” and this was not far from the truth. The company has been the subject of a number of national magazine stories because of its small, family operation competing with the giants in the canning field. Neither Don nor son Jim have ever winced from leadership in their field, either. In fact, Jim was elected president of the Indiana Canners Association at their 60th annual convention held in French Lick last November. The company and the Cecils are highly regarded in the canning industry An aside to telling of a real success story is the fact that the Cecils have not only employed area people in their canning plants, but they have made it a company policy to purchase materials locally whenever they could. Jim Cecil is secretarytreasurer of the company until it is reorganized, and Ruth (Mrs. Don) Cecil is vice president.