Morgan Foods

Morgan Foods is a food manufacturing company that manufactures a traditional line of canned soups, gravies, broths, sauces, and beans. The company distributes its products to the leading private label suppliers in the U.S. It is based in Austin, Indiana, and it has become a significant part of the town’s history.

Morgan Foods was founded in 1899 by a group of young men, when they combined the fresh vegetables grown in the rich soil of Austin with the latest canning technologies.  Joseph Steely Morgan, one of the founders, did not have enough money to buy company stock, so he agreed to work as the President. Morgan, along with the others, built a canning plant in Austin.

In the early 1900s, Morgan became the sole owner of the company. Additionally, he undertook the duties of General Manager, Sales Manager, and Purchasing Agent.  He even made sure that the employees were punctual. The company stated growing with his tireless efforts.  In 1906, Morgan  fell ill with typhoid fever and his son Ivan stepped in to help and became a partner, bringing about the changing of the company name to Morgan Packing Company. However, the two Morgans had very different attitudes towards their employees. While elder Morgan was very strict with his employees, the son was always willing to lend a helping hand to them, even opening a dance hall for them in 1930.

When most companies closed during the World War I, Morgan Packing Company was growing due to the increase in demand for canned foods. It started receiving contracts from the government, which allowed the company to expand. It opened new manufacturing plants to keep up with the demand. The next few decades saw the acquisition of many neighboring production facilities, though the company would later have to sell most of the plants. By the end of World War II, Jack Morgan and Fern Morgan, the 3rd generation of Morgans joined the company. By 1960, Jack Morgan became the President following the death of his father and grandfather.

In 1974, Jack’s son, John took over the leadership of the company. In 1992, it merged with Campbell’s soup manufacturer, though the company continues to be run by the Morgan family.

Company headquarters: 90 West Morgan Street, Austin, IN, USA
Ownership: Private
Annual revenue: $50 to 100 million
Number of employees: 250 to 499
Geography: USA
Demography: Natural and Organic

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