Chun King was an American brand of canned
Chinese food
Chinese cuisine comprises cuisines originating from China, as well as from Chinese people from other parts of the world. Because of the Chinese diaspora and the historical power of the country, Chinese cuisine has profoundly influenced many ...
products founded in the 1940s by
Jeno Paulucci, whose company also developed Jeno's
Pizza Rolls and
frozen pizza
Pizza is an Italian, specifically Neapolitan, dish typically consisting of a flat base of leavened wheat-based dough topped with tomato, cheese, and other ingredients, baked at a high temperature, traditionally in a wood-fired oven.
The ...
, and the
Michelina's brand of frozen food products, among many others.
By 1962, Chun King was bringing in $30 million in annual revenue and accounted for half of all U.S. sales of prepared Chinese food. In 1966, it was sold to the
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
The R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (RJR) is an American tobacco manufacturing company based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Founded by namesake R. J. Reynolds in 1875, it is the largest tobacco company in the United States. The company is a w ...
for $63 million.
R. J. Reynolds merged with
Nabisco Brands
Nabisco (, abbreviated from the earlier name National Biscuit Company) is an American manufacturer of cookies and snacks headquartered in East Hanover, New Jersey. The company is a subsidiary of Illinois-based Mondelēz International.
Nabisco ...
in 1985 and the new company changed its name to
RJR Nabisco
R. J. Reynolds Nabisco, Inc., doing business as RJR Nabisco, was an American conglomerate, selling tobacco and food products, headquartered in the Calyon Building in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. R. J. Reynolds Nabisco stopped ...
the following year. In 1989, Chun King was sold to
Yeo Hiap Seng of Singapore to help pay for
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts' leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco. RJR Nabisco had previously sold the Chun King line of frozen foods to
ConAgra Foods
Conagra Brands, Inc. (formerly ConAgra Foods) is an American consumer packaged goods holding company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Conagra makes and sells products under various brand names that are available in supermarkets, restaurants, ...
in 1986. After losing market share, Yeo Hiap Seng sold Chun King in 1995 to
Hunt-Wesson, owner of rival
La Choy. Hunt-Wesson's parent,
ConAgra
Conagra Brands, Inc. (formerly ConAgra Foods) is an American consumer packaged goods holding company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Conagra makes and sells products under various brand names that are available in supermarkets, restaurants, ...
, eventually closed Chun King's manufacturing facilities in 1995 and discontinued the brand.
See also
*
Chongqing
ChongqingPostal Romanization, Previously romanized as Chungking ();. is a direct-administered municipality in Southwestern China. Chongqing is one of the four direct-administered municipalities under the State Council of the People's Republi ...
*
La Choy
*
American Chinese cuisine
American Chinese cuisine, also known as Sino–American cuisine, is a style of Chinese cuisine developed by Chinese Americans. The dishes served in North American Chinese restaurants are modified to suit customers' tastes and are often quite d ...
References
American Chinese cuisine
Defunct brands
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