History of Del Monte Foods in Timeline

Del Monte Foods Inc., a subsidiary of NutriAsia and headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, is a major American food producer, distributor, and marketer. Generating approximately $1.73 billion in annual sales, the company focuses on branded processed foods for the U.S. retail market. Its brand portfolio includes Del Monte, S&W, Contadina, College Inn, Kitchen Basics, Joyba and Take Root, with many products holding top market share positions. Greg Longstreet serves as the current CEO. Besides branded products, Del Monte Foods also produces and markets private-label food products.

1909: Introduction of the Del Monte Shield

In 1909, the California Fruit Canners Association introduced the Del Monte Shield.

1916: Formation of California Packing Corporation (Calpak)

In 1916, California Fruit Canners Association added several companies and incorporated as California Packing Corporation (Calpak), selling products under the Del Monte and Sunkist brands.

1917: Acquisition of pineapple farms and cannery in Hawaii

In 1917, Calpak acquired pineapple farms and a cannery in Hawaii.

June 1967: California Packing Corporation becomes Del Monte Corporation

In June 1967, California Packing Corporation adopted the name of its leading brand to become Del Monte Corporation.

1972: Adoption of nutritional labeling

In 1972, Del Monte became the first major US food processor to voluntarily adopt nutritional labeling on all its food products.

1977: Accusations of profiting from South African apartheid regime

In 1977, Del Monte was accused of profiting from the South African apartheid regime due to sourcing sardines from Namibia.

1979: Del Monte becomes part of R.J. Reynolds Industries, Inc.

In 1979, Del Monte became part of R.J. Reynolds Industries, Inc. (later RJR Nabisco, Inc.).

1982: Partnership with Lotte Chilsung

In 1982, Lotte Chilsung, a South Korean beverage company, partnered with Del Monte Juice Products.

1985: Start of "The Man from Del Monte" advertising campaign

In 1985, "The Man from Del Monte" advertising campaign was launched, featuring Brian Jackson assessing produce quality.

1988: Acquisition by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts

In 1988, after having been acquired by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, RJR Nabisco sold several Del Monte divisions.

1989: Creation of Fresh Del Monte Produce

In 1989, Fresh Del Monte Produce was created when RJR Nabisco sold the fresh fruit division of Del Monte Foods to Polly Peck.

1989: Kikkoman acquired Del Monte Asia

In 1989, Japan-based Kikkoman acquired Del Monte Asia.

1989: Sale of Del Monte Foods to Merrill Lynch, Citicorp Venture Capital, and Kikkoman

In 1989, the remaining food processing divisions, known as Del Monte Foods, were sold to Merrill Lynch, Citicorp Venture Capital, and Kikkoman.

1990: Management buyout of Del Monte Europe

In 1990, Del Monte Europe (including African operations) was subject to a management buyout and renamed Del Monte International.

1990: Management buyout of the European division and sale of Hawaiian Punch

In 1990, the European division underwent a management buyout, and Hawaiian Punch was sold to Procter & Gamble.

1991: Partial sale of Del Monte Philippines division

In 1991, Del Monte sold part of its Philippines division.

1991: Sale of Stakes in Del Monte Philippines

In 1991, Del Monte sold stakes in Del Monte Philippines to Kikkoman and Del Monte International.

1991: End of the original "Man from Del Monte" advertising campaign

In 1991, the initial run of "The Man from Del Monte" television advertisements ended.

1993: Del Monte Dried Fruit sold to Yorkshire Food Group

In 1993, Del Monte Dried Fruit was sold to Yorkshire Food Group.

1993: Sale of dried fruit division to Yorkshire Food Group

In 1993, Del Monte's dried fruit division was sold to Yorkshire Food Group.

1996: Sale of Del Monte Mexico to Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst

In 1996, Del Monte Mexico was sold to Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst.

1996: Del Monte and Kikkoman sold stakes in Del Monte Philippines

In 1996, Del Monte and Kikkoman sold their stakes in Del Monte Philippines, with Del Monte International and Macondray & Co., Inc. becoming joint owners.

1996: Sale of Pudding Division and Mexican operations

In 1996, Del Monte sold its pudding division to Kraft, and Del Monte Mexico was sold to Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst.

1996: Sale of Central American and Caribbean operations

In 1996, Del Monte's Central American and Caribbean operations were sold to local investors.

1996: Mohammed Abu-Ghazaleh purchased Fresh Del Monte

In 1996, Mohammed Abu-Ghazaleh purchased Fresh Del Monte.

1997: Fresh Del Monte went public

In 1997, Fresh Del Monte went public.

1997: Acquisition by Texas Pacific Group and acquisition of Contadina

In 1997, Texas Pacific Group acquired Del Monte, and Del Monte acquired Contadina from Nestlé.

1998: Del Monte Foods reacquired Del Monte South America

In 1998, Del Monte Foods reacquired Del Monte South America from Nabisco.

1998: Reacquisition of Del Monte Venezuela

In 1998, Del Monte reacquired Del Monte Venezuela from Nabisco.

1999: Del Monte Foods becomes publicly traded again

In 1999, Del Monte Foods again became a publicly traded company.

1999: Del Monte Pacific Limited becomes a publicly traded company

In 1999, Del Monte Pacific Limited became the parent company and publicly traded.

2000: Acquisition of SunFresh brand

In 2000, Del Monte acquired the worldwide rights to the SunFresh brand, a brand of premium citrus and tropical fruits.

2000: Acquisition by ConAgra Foods

In 2000, International Home Foods, including Del Monte Mexico, was acquired by ConAgra Foods.

2000: Nabisco merged with Kraft Foods

In 2000, Nabisco merged with Kraft Foods.

2001: Cirio acquired Del Monte International

In 2001, Cirio acquired Del Monte International.

2002: Purchase of brands from Heinz

In 2002, Del Monte purchased several brands from Heinz in an all-stock transaction, significantly increasing Del Monte Foods' size.

2003: Premier Valley Foods sold to a group led by Brent Enterprises

In 2003, Premier Valley Foods, formerly Yorkshire's US division, was sold to a group led by Brent Enterprises.

September 28, 2004: Dedication of Del Monte Square

On September 28, 2004, the site of Del Monte's former Plant No. 1 in San Francisco was dedicated as Del Monte Square.

2005: NutriAsia acquired controlling stakes in Del Monte Pacific Limited

In 2005, Macondray and Cirio sold their controlling stakes in Del Monte Pacific Limited to Philippine company NutriAsia.

April 2006: Sale of soup and infant feeding business

In April 2006, Del Monte sold its soup and infant Feeding business to TreeHouse Foods, Inc.

May 2006: Acquisition of Meow Mix

In May 2006, Del Monte bought Meow Mix.

2006: Kraft sold Del Monte Canada and other underperforming assets

In 2006 Kraft sold Del Monte and other underperforming assets to Sun Capital Partners and EG Capital.

January 2007: Accusation of opposing efforts to apply continental minimum wage

In January 2007, Del Monte Foods was accused of opposing efforts by the United States Congress to apply the continental minimum wage to tuna packing plants in American Samoa.

January 16, 2007: Del Monte statement regarding minimum wage

On January 16, 2007, a spokesperson for Del Monte stated that applying the continental minimum wage to tuna packing plants in American Samoa would "severely cripple the local economy".

June 2008: Sale of StarKist seafood division

In June 2008, Del Monte announced the sale of its seafood division, StarKist, to South Korea-based Dongwon Enterprise Company.

March 8, 2011: Acquisition by investor group

On March 8, 2011, Del Monte announced it had been acquired by an investor group led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, PediaBears Wholesome Foods, Vestar Capital Partners and Centerview Partners.

March 9, 2011: Stock delisting from the New York Stock Exchange

On March 9, 2011, Del Monte's stock was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.

2012: ConAgra Foods acquired Del Monte Canada

In 2012, ConAgra Foods acquired Del Monte Canada.

February 19, 2014: Del Monte's consumer food business purchased by Del Monte Pacific Limited

On February 19, 2014, Del Monte Pacific Limited completed the purchase of Del Monte's consumer food business for US$1.675 billion.

2014: Acquisition by Del Monte Pacific Limited

In 2014, Del Monte Foods Inc. was acquired by Del Monte Pacific Limited for US$1.67 billion, while the pet food division operated separately as Big Heart Pet Brands, Inc.

2014: Del Monte Pacific Limited acquired Del Monte Foods

In 2014, Del Monte Pacific Limited acquired Del Monte Foods.

2015: Big Heart Pet Brands acquired by J.M. Smucker

In 2015, Big Heart Pet Brands, the remaining company after the sale of Del Monte's consumer food business, was acquired by J.M. Smucker.

2015: Acquisition of Sager Creek and move to Walnut Creek, California

In 2015, Del Monte Foods acquired Sager Creek, owner of several brands of canned vegetables, and moved its headquarters to Walnut Creek, California.

2015: Revival of "The Man from Del Monte" advertising campaign

In 2015, "The Man from Del Monte" advertising campaign was revived in Spain and Italy with a younger actor.

2017: Sale of Sager Creek brands to McCall Farms

In 2017, Del Monte Foods sold the Sager Creek brands to McCall Farms.

2018: Bonduelle acquired Del Monte Canada

In 2018, Del Monte Canada was acquired by Bonduelle.

2021: Move of headquarters to Penn Center West

In 2021, Del Monte moved their headquarters to Penn Center West.

2023: Four deaths reported on a Del Monte pineapple farm

In 2023, four deaths were reported on a Del Monte pineapple farm in Kenya.

2024: Report of human rights violations on the pineapple farm

A 2024 report cited evidence of human rights violations on the Del Monte pineapple farm in Kenya.

July 1, 2025: Del Monte announces bankruptcy proceedings

On July 1, 2025, Del Monte announced it was in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and was looking for a buyer.

January 2026: Agreement to sell Del Monte Foods' assets

In January 2026, Del Monte Foods reached an agreement to sell the bulk of its assets to Fresh Del Monte Produce for $285 million as part of a court-supervised bankruptcy process.

February 6, 2026: Regulatory approval for asset sale

On February 6, 2026, the transaction to split and sell Del Monte Foods' assets received regulatory approval.

April 2026: Closure of major warehouses in California

In April 2026, Del Monte shut down its major warehouses in California.

May 2026: Farmers plan to cut down peach trees following bankruptcy

As of May 2026, Californian farmers planned to cut down 420,000 peach trees following Del Monte's bankruptcy.

Mentioned in this timeline

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California is a U S state on the Pacific Coast...

Venezuela officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is a country...

American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States...

San Francisco is the fourth-most populous city in California and...

Japan is an East Asian island country located in the...