California Canners and Growers
| Business |
Cannery |
|---|---|
| Active |
1958 - 1984 |
| Aliases |
Cal Can |
| Predecessors |
Filice and Perelli, Richmond-Chase, Thornton Canning, San Jose Canning Company, Glorietta Foods |
| Successors |
Tri-Valley Growers |
California Canners and Growers was a large California canner, formed in 1958 from the merger of several smaller canning companies[1]. The founding companies included Filice and Perelli, Richmond-Chase, Thornton Canning, and San Jose Canning Company. Subsidiaries were merged into the parent company on June 1, 1963 according [2]. Richmond-Chase would bring Burnel Richmond as VP, Filice and Perreli, Peter M. Filice; Thornton Cannery, Dale G. Hollenbeck, Schuckl, George Coley. San Jose canning would be separate. They canned 500,000 tons of fruits and vegetables each season. The separate business named were removed in April 1964[3].
Joseph Perelli of Filice and Perelli discussed the buyout in an oral history at the Bancroft Library.
The company did a joint venture with Tri-Valley Growers in 1964 to share can-making costs[4]. The joint venture was called C.T. Supply, with its main office in Fremont, CA. The joint venture later changed its name to Tri-Valley Container Corporation.
In the early 1980's, California Canners and Growers bought some of Libby's canneries. After a rough 1983 season, California Canners and Growers was merged into Tri-Valley Growers. According to one source, "both companies were in trouble and the banks 'tossed a coin' over which company took over the other. All of Cal Can's local plants were shut down and sold off as scrap". Cal Can also got some of Libby's brands at some point.
In 1983, Cal Can declared bankruptcy. They sold the Richmond cannery, and closed the San Jose Canning Company site on Lick Ave[5].
In 1984, the larger Tri-Valley Growers bought Cal Can.
Locations
| Location | Plant Number | Years | Address | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | 1200 Harbor Way | Former Filice and Perelli. | ||
| San Jose | Plant #3 | 1940s' - 1970's | 1193 Lick Ave.[6] | Former San Jose Canning Company. |
| San Jose | ~1970 | North of Diridon station, east of tracks. |
From Dome of Foam. |
Photos
Photo of CalCan facility north of Diridon Station
References
- ↑ June 6, 1958 Lodi News-Sentinel
- ↑ May 29, 1963 Lodi News
- ↑ 1964 Modesto Bee]
- ↑ Tri-Valley Growers History, fundinguniverse.com
- ↑ San Jose Mercury News
- ↑ List of manufacturing businesses in Santa Clara County, Vocational Education memo, 1972.