La Choy
Encyclopedia
La Choy is a brand name of canned and prepackaged American Chinese food
ingredients. The brand was purchased in 1990 from Beatrice Foods
by ConAgra Foods
during the LBO
firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts' dismantling of the company and is still currently a property of ConAgra.
(유일한), later founder of Yuhan Corporation
in Korea
and Wally Smith, from the University of Michigan
. The first product, canned mung bean sprouts, was originally sold in Smith's Detroit grocery store
. http://www.conagrafoods.com/brands/la_choy/index.jsp
New left the company for personal reasons in 1930 and Smith was killed by lightning in 1937, but the company continued to flourish. By the late 1930s, management at the firm had developed a comprehensive line of food products, including bean sprouts, La Choy soy sauce
, Subgum
, kumquats, water chestnuts, brown sauce
, bamboo shoots
, and chow mein noodles.
The company had capitalized on the growing fascination Americans had with the Orient
, including an entirely different type of cuisine. In 1937, the company built its first manufacturing facility in Detroit, Michigan
, with 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) of production space.
To reduce overhead costs and maintain profitability during World War II
, management decided to relocate the company from its facility in Detroit, Michigan to new headquarters in Archbold, Ohio
. Selling its Detroit plant to the federal government for the production of munitions, the proceeds from the sale enabled the company to start a new era in its history.
included the slogan "LaChoy makes Chinese food swing American."
Early in his career the puppeteer Jim Henson
created a series of television commercials in the late 1960s featuring a muppet character of the La Choy Dragon which used the catchphrase "cooked in dragon fire" to describe the product.
American Chinese cuisine
American Chinese cuisine refers to the style of food served by many Chinese restaurants in the United States. This type of cooking typically caters to Western tastes, and differs significantly from the original Chinese cuisine.-History:...
ingredients. The brand was purchased in 1990 from Beatrice Foods
Beatrice Foods
Beatrice Foods Company was a major American food processing company. In 1987, its smaller international food operations were sold to Reginald Lewis, a corporate attorney creating TLC Beatrice International, after which the majority of its domestic brands and assets were acquired by Kohlberg,...
by ConAgra Foods
ConAgra Foods
ConAgra Foods, Inc. is an American packaged foods company. ConAgra's products are available in supermarkets, as well as restaurants and food service establishments. Its headquarters are located in Omaha, Nebraska...
during the LBO
Leveraged buyout
A leveraged buyout occurs when an investor, typically financial sponsor, acquires a controlling interest in a company's equity and where a significant percentage of the purchase price is financed through leverage...
firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts' dismantling of the company and is still currently a property of ConAgra.
Early history
La Choy was founded in 1922 by Dr. Ilhan NewNew Il-han
New Il-han , or Yu Il-han, was a Korean independent activist and enterpriser. He founded Yuhan Co, Ltd.. His original Korean name was Yu Il-hyeong.Dr...
(유일한), later founder of Yuhan Corporation
Yuhan
Yuhan Co, Ltd. is a South Korean pharmaceutical and chemical company. It was established in 1926 by Yu Il-han and has been listed on the Korea Stock Exchange since 1962. It is headquartered in Daebang-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, Korea....
in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
and Wally Smith, from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. The first product, canned mung bean sprouts, was originally sold in Smith's Detroit grocery store
Grocery store
A grocery store is a store that retails food. A grocer, the owner of a grocery store, stocks different kinds of foods from assorted places and cultures, and sells these "groceries" to customers. Large grocery stores that stock products other than food, such as clothing or household items, are...
. http://www.conagrafoods.com/brands/la_choy/index.jsp
New left the company for personal reasons in 1930 and Smith was killed by lightning in 1937, but the company continued to flourish. By the late 1930s, management at the firm had developed a comprehensive line of food products, including bean sprouts, La Choy soy sauce
Soy sauce
Soy sauce is a condiment produced by fermenting soybeans with Aspergillus oryzae or Aspergillus sojae molds, along with water and salt...
, Subgum
Subgum
Subgum or sub gum is a type of Chinese dish in which one or more meats and/or seafood are mixed with vegetables, and sometimes also noodles, rice, or soup...
, kumquats, water chestnuts, brown sauce
Brown sauce
Brown sauce may refer to:* Brown sauce , in French and Scandinavian cuisines* Steak sauce, a spiced condiment containing fruits and vinegar** A1 Steak Sauce, an American brand of steak sauce** HP Sauce, a British brand of sauce...
, bamboo shoots
Bamboo Shoots
Bamboo Shoots is an American four-piece musical group based out of Brooklyn, New York and suburban New Jersey. They are known for their dueling, two-person rhythm section and their South Asian identity and influence...
, and chow mein noodles.
The company had capitalized on the growing fascination Americans had with the Orient
Orient
The Orient means "the East." It is a traditional designation for anything that belongs to the Eastern world or the Far East, in relation to Europe. In English it is a metonym that means various parts of Asia.- Derivation :...
, including an entirely different type of cuisine. In 1937, the company built its first manufacturing facility in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, with 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) of production space.
To reduce overhead costs and maintain profitability during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, management decided to relocate the company from its facility in Detroit, Michigan to new headquarters in Archbold, Ohio
Archbold, Ohio
Archbold is a village in Fulton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 4,290 at the 2000 census.Archbold is home to Northwest State Community College...
. Selling its Detroit plant to the federal government for the production of munitions, the proceeds from the sale enabled the company to start a new era in its history.
Marketing and advertising
An advertising jingleJingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
included the slogan "LaChoy makes Chinese food swing American."
Early in his career the puppeteer Jim Henson
Jim Henson
James Maury "Jim" Henson was an American puppeteer best known as the creator of The Muppets. As a puppeteer, Henson performed in various television programs, such as Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, films such as The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper, and created advanced puppets for...
created a series of television commercials in the late 1960s featuring a muppet character of the La Choy Dragon which used the catchphrase "cooked in dragon fire" to describe the product.