Cloverdale Foods

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Cloverdale History

North Dakota Became a State
North Dakota Became a State
1889
Hoy Russell Founded Mandan Creamery
From the day he opened, Hoy Russell insisted on uncompromising quality, and his small creamery quickly earned a reputation for supplying the best-tasting, freshest dairy products. Hoy became one of the largest butter manufacturers and turkey processors in the United States. Mandan butter and Mandan turkeys were shipped (and known) coast to coast.
1915
Grade A Milk and Ice Cream
One building was no longer able to contain the entire operation. In 1922, a Dickinson plant was converted to process Grade A milk as well as produce ice cream. It was here that the Cloverdale name was born. There was now a Cloverdale Foods Co., a division of Mandan Creamery.
1922
North Dakota Secretary of State Good Standing Certificate filed
Issued September 12, 1925 - Present
1925
Mandan Creamery Began Large Scale Turkey Operation
Mandan Creamery began a large-scale turkey operation, while being seasonal, starting around Nov. 1 of each year, and extending through Christmas. What started as one freight carload of dressed turkeys being transported to the larger cities a year would boom into 100 cars a year. Mandan Creamery would end up leasing 25 freight cars, each painted yellow with a running turkey painted in black on the side.
1926
Minot Expansion
The 1930s also saw a great deal of expansion from Mandan Creamery. Having already established a plant in Dickinson, the company sought to add another one. Minot was the chosen location, and Mandan Creamery had a new plant in 1930.
1930
Mandan Creamery Began Distributing Products by Truck
Drivers noticed that the small towns were getting very little meat. Farmers’ herds had been decimated by the drought and Depression. Mandan Creamery partnered with a well-known Mandan meat market operator who agreed to provide fresh meat for us to distribute.
1936
Leader in the Field of Butter, Poultry and Eggs
The success of Cloverdale depended on the many dairy production farms, which shipped their cream to the company from east of Jamestown to Billings, Montana, northern South Dakota to northern North Dakota. As a result of this success, Hoy became nationally recognized as a leader in the field of butter, poultry and egg production.
1940
2nd Generation CEO William Russell
In 1945, William Russell took the helm as Cloverdale’s second CEO.
1945
Mandan Creamery Expands
In 1947, just a year after the turkey operation was closed, Russell would install a meat processing plant in the east section of the building, which eventually expanded to occupy the entire front. Mandan Creamery was beginning the change to the Cloverdale we know today.
1947
Tangy Summer Sausage Launched
1958 Cloverdale introduced its first line of premium-grade meat products — Cloverdale Tangy Summer Sausage.
1958
Largest Sweet-Cream Manufacturer
In the 1960s, production would reach 12 million pounds. Mandan Creamery would become known as the world’s largest sweet-cream manufacturing plant under one roof.
1960
Fair Packaging and Labeling Act Enacted
Fair Packaging and Labeling Act Enacted
1967
Mandan Creamery Changes Name to Cloverdale
Mandan Creamery changes name to Cloverdale Creation of OSHA and the Occupational Safety and Health Act
1970
3rd Generation CEO Don Russell
In 1970, Don Russell took the helm as Cloverdale’s 3rd generation CEO. In this time, Cloverdale entered broadline distribution, and began divestiture of dairy operations and businesses.
1970
Food Safety and Quality Service Created
The Food Safety and Quality Service was created to perform meat and poultry grading and inspection. It was later reorganized and renamed the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in 1981.
1977
Warehouse Addition
The existing Cloverdale warehouse was built in 1979. Cloverdale built the main plant in 1987. The company added on to the facility in 1994.
1979
New Plant Opens
The new plant opened on February 22, 1988, relocating from downtown Mandan where Runnings is now located. It was 56,000 square feet and built at a cost of five million dollars. At the time, Cloverdale processed more than 11.5 million pounds of meat annually and was Mandan’s largest private employer.
1988
Seven Producers Started Cloverdale Growers Alliance
In 1994, seven producers started Cloverdale Growers Alliance with an idea to supply hogs. Five years later, Cloverdale became a formal alliance and expanded to include other farmers. Cloverdale Growers raised capital for this expansion through a farmer equity drive and a share commitment of hogs. To launch the Alliance, Cloverdale Growers had targeted the commitment of 100,000 head of hogs. However, after the equity drive and the difficult times in the hog sector in the late 90s, they revamped their strategy and decided to start the Alliance with a commitment of 50,000 hogs per year.
1994
Company Sells Foodservice Distribution Subsidiary
In 1995, Cloverdale sold the foodservice distribution subsidiary.
1995
TJ Russell 4th Generation CEO
In 2000, 4th generation T.J. Russell (current Chairman) became CEO. Russell began working at Cloverdale as a high school student in 1980 and continued through college. With a passion for the business, strong leadership qualities, and commitment to continuous learning, T.J. worked in several management positions throughout the company including product development, sales, and marketing before becoming President and CEO.
2000
Global Food Safety Initiative
(GFSI) Created Food industry leaders created the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) to collaboratively drive industry improvement to reduce food safety risks and increase consumer confidence in the delivery of safe food.
2000
Minot Harvest Facility Closes
The plant was not large (600 head per day capacity) but was an important cog in the hog-pork industry in the northern plains, purchasing a good number of hogs from North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and the Canadian Prairie Provinces over the years.
2011
Cloverdale Turns 100
Celebrating 100 years
2015
Scott Russell CEO
ott Russell, current CEO is focused on innovative growth strategies and organizational health. Along this journey, Scott recasted his own leadership style and today primarily focuses on what Cloverdale could become, and how to involve others in that vision. Scott’s passion has centered around multiple facets and roles in the food industry for over 35 years.
2016
Cloverdale Acquired Blue Ribbon Brand
In 2016, Cloverdale acquired Blue Ribbon Brand, based out of Houston Texas.
2016
Cloverdale Wins “Best Bacon”
Cloverdale won “Best Bacon” at The Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival in Des Moines, Iowa.
2017
Big Flavor Tour Across the Midwest
The Big Flavor Tour traveled across the Midwest sampling Cloverdale products!
2017
Milestone Records
Cloverdale reached milestone records of pounds shipped during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020
Product Packaging Refresh
As Cloverdale shifted the focus to grow the retail grocery business, the product packaging was refreshed
2020
Cloverdale Plant Expansion
Cloverdale's plant expansion includes 44,000 square feet of additional storage & fulfillment space, new fermentation rooms, increased smoke house capacity and expanded kitchen area. These additions will support increased production as we grow.
2021
Cloverdale Enters the Meat Snack Category
Launch of Tangy Snackers
2022
Launch of Fully Cooked Bacon Pieces
Launch of Fully Cooked Bacon Pieces
2023