History of Marie Callender's, Swanson's and Hershey

People who have contemplated starting their own businesses may at times feel discouraged due to lack of knowledge, finances, resources, and exposure. They will find relief in realizing that all businesses begin somewhere. In fact, anyone desiring a business will be inspired after learning how numerous businesses have taken shape from humble beginnings. Some of these businesses are outlined below:

Marie Callender's

Marie Callender's, a leading brand of frozen foods that is presently produced by the vendor Conagra, emerged in a very modest way. During World War II (1939-1945), a lady named Marie Callender worked at a delicatessen, baking pies. Afterward, she decided to open her own bakery which she financed by selling her family's new car. She went from initially baking ten pies a day to baking a thousand pies a day by the 1960's. In 1964, Callender operated her first pie shop and restaurant in Orange County, CA that later expanded into 110 eateries on the west coast. Following this, Marie Callender frozen entrees were sold in supermarkets.

Swanson

Swanson began as a partnership between a Swedish immigrant, Carl A. Swanson, John Herpe, and Frank Ellison. The business, Jerpe Commission Company, specialized in butter production and poultry. After Jerpe's death, Swanson bought out the company in 1928. This company served as one of the largest providers of poultry and eggs to soldier's during World War II. After the war, the name of the company changed to C.A. Swanson & Sons. After Carl Swanson passed, his son's Gilbert and Clark introduced Swanson TV dinners and went from selling 5,000 dinners in the first year to 10,000,000 dinners within the next year.

The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1894 and called the Hershey Chocolate Company. Milton began as an apprentice to a confectioner up until 1976. The first candy shop that he opened failed after six years. Afterward, Hershey successfully operated a chocolate plant in 1903 in Derry Church, PA later named Hershey, PA.

Above all, these interesting stories about how giant vendors began, teaches everyone that a talent is all that it takes to envision a business. All businesses undergo processes before they are fully developed. As seen in the above examples, the process begins when a person works under someone else or in a partnership where he or she can gain knowledge and experience. In addition, the willingness to invest and plan for succession will help a business to prosper.

Sources

"Callender's pies really hit the spot in O.C." http://www.mcpies.com