Streit's Matzo Bakery

Though the company logo say "since 1925" Aron Streit opened his first matzo factory in 1916. Still family owned and operated, Streit's continues the tradition of offering matzo and kosher food products for Passover and year round.

Welcome to the Century Club: Wegmans

Wegmans Food Markets is a privately-owned regional supermarket chain headquartered in Rochester, New York. Run by third and fourth generation Wegmans, they have been listed in Fortune magazines "100 Best Companies to Work For" since the list first appeared in 1998 and have been ranked in the top 10 for the last eight consecutive years. Congratulations on 100 years and welcome to the corporate Century Club!

New Century Club Companies in 2016

With a new year comes new members of the corporate Century Club! In the spotlight today is Zidell, a family-owned company based in Portland, Oregon.  Founded in 1916 by Russian immigrant Sam Zidell to sell second-hand machinery out of a scrap yard on the waterfront, by 1960 Zidell had become the largest ship dismantling operation in the country employing hundreds in the salvaging of ships after World War II.  Realizing that material from the ships could be put to new use, Sam's son Emery created a valve and tube forgings business and Zidell Marine, an innovator in steel barge design and construction. Run today by third generation Zidell family, a fourth generation family member has also joined the company to explore and develop new possibilities.

Welcome to the Century Club!

Welcome Glamos Wire Products to the Century Club! Since 1899 Glamos has been providing commercial, concrete, industrial, and custom wire products and solutions to customers across multiple industries. This 4th generation family company operates out of Hugo, Minnesota. Check them out at www.glamoswire.com/

Six New Century Club Members

Building a data base of 100-year-old U.S. companies that have been in continuous operation for over 100 years is an ongoing process. I just found six more in the March/April 2015 issue of Midwest Living magazine. Corporate longevity congratulations to the following firms:

Clay City Pottery in Clay City, Indiana

Sixth-generation Griffiths run the company his family began in 1885. Customers say their top-selling 10-inch cobalt blue pie plate makes great pie crust!

John Boos & Company in Effingham, Illinois

 

If you see a wooden butcher block, you'll probably find the Boos logo branded on it. Established in 1887, John Boos is one of the oldest manufacturers of premium quality food service equipment and butcher blocks in the United States.

Horween Leather, Chicago Illinois

Founded in 1905, Horween is the sole survivor of Chicago's once teeming tannery industry. Their leathers are still made by hand the way they were generations ago using traditional tannages and techniques, carefully updated with modern applications.

J.W. Hulme Company in St. Paul, Minnesota

Established in 1905, every J.W. Hulme travel bag, briefcase, backpack, handbag and accessory has been proudly made in America and crafted to last a lifetime.

Red Wing Shoes, RedWing, Minnesota

 Behind each pair of Red Wing shoes or boots is over 100 years of experience. Since 1905 Red Wing purpose-built footwear has been the standard of excellence for work boots.

Wigwam Mills, Inc. in Sheboygan, Wisconsin

 

Since 1905 the Chesebro family has been committed to knitting fine-quality socks for runners, hikers, solders, and people who just want comfortable socks. 

 

Companies Celebrating 120 Years in 2015

There are 15 U.S. companies in my data base that have been in continuous, independent operation for 120 years. Whether you call this an anniversary or a birthday, it is definitely reason to celebrate! (If you know of a company that should be on this list but is not, please let me know.)

1.       J.C. Newman Cigar Co (4th generation)	Tampa	Florida		Private
2.       Lennox International Inc.	Richardson	Texas		Public
3.       Harris Corporation	Melbourne	Florida		Public
4.       Piper Jaffray Co	Minneapolis	Minnesota		Public
5.       Swann's Furniture Company	Tyler	Texas		Private
6.       Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc.	Euclid	Ohio		Public
7.       J W Black Lumber Co Inc.	Corning	Arkansas		Private
8.       Armstrong International (Machine Works)	Three Rivers	Michigan		Private
9.       PRC Industrial Supply, Inc.	Bangor	Maine		Private
10.    Albany International Corp	Rochester	NH		Public
11.    Kansas City Life Insurance Co	Kansas City	Missouri		Public
12.    Rumsey Electric (employee-owned)	Conshohocken	Pennsylvania		Private
13.    Garland Industries	Cleveland	Ohio		Private
14.    W. W. Fairbairn & Sons	Alanson	Michigan		Private
15.    The Kirlin Company (4th generation)	Detroit	Michigan		Private

Longevity Factor #5: Active Community Members

Because the old companies see themselves as an integral part of a web of relationships often connected to their family history and reputation, the development of relationships within the local community – both commercial and social – are seen as just as important as the development of relationships with their business transaction partners. The old companies are active participants in their local communities, promoting the community and developing local networks for mutual learning and benefit. In many cases a company and their local community are so closely associated with each other that they are seen as one and the same.

Old companies score significantly higher than young firms on every question relating to building relationships within their communities. Whether it was participating in business organizations (such as the Chamber of Commerce), building personal connections with people in other industries, or being involved in projects to promote their local community, the older firms are significant, active members of their communities. The old companies believe the connections they build with local people in other industries at all levels of management have a positive influence on the reputation of their firm. They also believe there is a positive influence on their business that comes from the local community’s good reputation.

As a result of recognizing the value provided by the society beyond their individual business or industry, the old companies invest time and resources in projects that develop and sustain their communities. And when a crisis hits their community, the old companies are there to help. And this community support works both ways, with the community stepping in to help out a business when disaster hits, such as with 150-year-old, sixth-generation Brietbach’s Country Dining in Balltown, Iowa, which was struck by fire and completely destroyed twice within 18 months. In this case, it was the community that helped rescue the business. (You can see more of this remarkable story in the film Spinning Plates.)

Often when I talk about social responsibility with my students, they think just in terms of philanthropy, or monetary donations to non-profit organizations, and they ask how small or start-up companies can do this when they are still struggling to make money to keep the business operating. The community relationship practices engaged in by the old companies are great examples of how social responsibility and community service can be more than just financial donations to the United Way (although when able, the old companies are philanthropic as well). Often these practices take the form of supporting employees’ volunteer efforts.

Other companies have “donated” their employees to non-profits during slow times in the business cycle, thus keeping valued people on their payroll for when business turns up again while also contributing to their community. It would be difficult to overstate the loyalty and dedication to a company that these practices build in employees who see themselves helping out their community.