Simplot

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

J. R. Simplot Company

Type of Company	Private
Founded	1923; Declo, Idaho
Headquarters	Boise, Idaho
Key people	J. R. Simplot, Founder Larry Hlobik, Director and CEO Scott R. Simplot, Chairman
Products	Canned and Frozen Foods, Fertilizer, Agriculture and Livestock
Employees	11,500
Slogan	Bringing Earth's Resources to Life
Website	www.simplot.com

The J. R. Simplot Company, commonly referred to as Simplot, was founded in 1923 as a one-man business by 14-year-old J. R. Simplot near the small agricultural community of Declo in south central Idaho. J. R. Simplot led his company to tremendous growth in the period between its foundation and World War II, and truly flourished when it sold millions of pounds of dehydrated vegetables (primarily potatoes and related products) to the U.S. military during the war.

Perhaps the most important and defining feature of the Simplot company was the invention by one of Simplot's chemists, Ray L. Dunlap, of the necessary processes to produce quality frozen french fries. Simplot is now one of the largest privately owned companies in the world (ranked 59th in Private Companies by Forbes magazine in 2004) and has branches in Australia, Canada, Mexico, China, and several other regions.

J. R. Simplot himself retired as president in 1973, but his involvement in the company has continued through to present day.

Butch Otter, a former lieutenant governor and congressman from Idaho, and currently the state's governor-elect, was employed by the company for 30 years and served as company president.