Orville Redenbacher's

Last updated
Orville Redenbacher's
Orville Redenbacher's logo.png
Product typePopcorn
Owner Conagra Brands
Country United States
Introduced1969;54 years ago (1969)
MarketsWorldwide
Previous owners Charles F. Bowman
Orville Redenbacher
Hunt-Wesson, Inc.
Beatrice Foods
Website orville.com

Orville Redenbacher's is an American brand of popcorn made originally by Chester Inc. which was owned by Charles F. Bowman and Orville Redenbacher (who starred in nearly all the commercials until his death in 1995). [1] The product was launched to the public in 1969 and was sold to Hunt-Wesson, a division of Norton Simon Inc. in 1976. In 1983, Esmark purchased Norton Simon, [2] and the next year (1984), Beatrice Foods acquired Esmark. [3] In 1985, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts acquired Beatrice with the goal of selling off businesses. [4] The popcorn business and other old Hunt-Wesson businesses were sold in 1990 to agribusiness giant Conagra Brands.

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References

  1. "Orville Redenbacher, Famous For His Popcorn, Is Dead at 88". The New York Times . September 20, 1995. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  2. Cole, Robert J. (1983-07-01). "NORTON ACCEPTS BID BY ESMARK". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  3. "Beatrice Foods and Esmark Inc. signed a definitive merger..." UPI. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  4. "Beatrice to Be Acquired by Kohlberg : $6-Billion Leveraged Buy-Out Accord Is Biggest in History". Los Angeles Times. 1985-11-15. Retrieved 2021-09-30.