The Adams Peanut Butter Company was founded in 1916 by Rex F. Adams, a local Tacoma football coach. In 1919 the Company added Old Fashioned Peanut Butter to its line of products. Its peanut butter slogan was "The freshest thing in town." Tacoma customers recall being able to purchase the delicacy of
Adams Hot Peanut Butter. The freshly packed hot peanut butter was rushed to the local grocery stores on the very day of special ads.
Mr. Adams lost his life in the 1920s when a flu epidemic swept the country. The company continued to enjoy moderate success under several different owners until the 1960s when competitive pressures and deterioration of plant equipment nearly forced the company out of business.
In 1965 Cecil and Inga Nielsen purchased the company, and they've operated under the name Adams Food, Inc. The company began to prosper after eliminating unprofitable items and upgrading the processing machinery. In January 1974, production of
Adams products moved to a new plant in the Port of Tacoma area.
In December of 1998, The J.M. Smucker Company acquired the
Adams Peanut Butter business from Agrilink Foods, Inc.
About The J.M. Smucker Company
The J. M. Smucker Company is the leading marketer and manufacturer of fruit spreads, peanut butter, shortening and oils, ice cream toppings and health and natural foods beverages in North America. Its family of brands includes
Smucker's®,
Jif®,
Crisco®,
Pillsbury®,
R.W. Knudsen Family®,
Hungry Jack® and
Martha White® in the United States, along with
Robin Hood® and
Bick's® in Canada. The Company remains rooted in the Basic Beliefs of Quality, People, Ethics, Growth and Independence established by its founder and namesake more than a century ago. Since 1998, the Company has made FORTUNE Magazine's annual listing of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the United States, ranking number one in 2004 and earning a spot on the list since its inception. For more information about the company, visit
www.smuckers.com.
Pillsbury is a trademark of The Pillsbury Company, used under license.
