History

A history of treating people right.

Business has always been about working with people for mutual benefit. An attitude of respect, a desire to help others and a foundation of solid values have been integral to our success – as well as our partners – decade after decade.

1920s

Brayton Wilbur Sr., Floyd Ellis and Thomas Franck start a trading company for fish meal, oil and cement with $5,000.

1930s

In 1931, Wilbur-Ellis establishes an export trading business in Asia-Pacific with the acquisition of Connell Brothers, a distributor of food and other products.

1940s

Wilbur-Ellis opens crop protection and treatment locations, starting in California and Arizona.

1950s

In post-war Japan, Wilbur-Ellis is one of the first foreign-based companies to reestablish trade with the country, a legacy continued today.

1960s

As formulas for fertilizer and crop protection become more sophisticated, the company purchases businesses in California, the Pacific Northwest and Texas. This begins a strategic acquisition approach that continues today.

1970s

A regulatory affairs group is created to monitor and ensure compliance with environmental regulation.

1980s

The Nutrition business is officially made into a separate division. Wilbur-Ellis now ranks among the 50 largest privately-owned companies in the United States.

2000s

The Company makes several acquisitions in each of the three divisions. Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition enters the premix business with the acquisition of Knox McDaniel (2001), Western Feed Supplements (2003) and Inman (2004).

The Company enters the pet food market with the acquisition of Fauna potato processing plant in Idaho (2004).

Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition acquires Alberta Timothy and expands into the forage market (2006).

The Company acquires Pro-Food and expands its export to Asia and footprint in Idaho (2008).

Sutter Grading in California adds rice to the byproduct business (2009).

2010s

Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition acquires a meat bone rendering plant in New Zealand and a meal mixing plant in Kaufman County, Texas, to help solidify its presence in the pet food industry (2011).

Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition acquires an animal protein blending facility in Gaffney, South Carolina (2014).

Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition acquires Ameri-Pac Inc. a family-owned, value-added manufacturing business focused on animal health and nutrition specialty products for the pet food, companion animal, livestock and aquaculture markets, located in St. Joseph, Missouri (2018).

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