Pork_and_beans Gilbert_Van_Camp

early can label, c. 1900

in 1894 indianapolis jobber brought load of canned baked beans van camp plant have them reprocessed. @ lunch time, frank van camp, founder s son, opened can jobbing house eat lunch. flavor of beans flat, make them more palatable added van camps ketchup, originating van camp s pork , beans tomato sauce. first sale car load delivered in pittsburgh.

in december 1894 van camps placed small want ad in indianapolis news seeking house-to-house canvassers sell cans of pork , beans, 300 responded. next year company sold 67,030 cases of beans. company began advertising in several cities street car cards, outdoor signs , three-sheet posters. in 1896 magazine advertisements began running in national magazines, , organized sales force dispatched in field. in 1898 company used 6 million tin cans operation. turn of century company spending $1.5 million on advertising , running 6 plants spread out across country canning evaporated milk beans, , 1909, van camp’s dominant vendor of pork , beans.