Franklin Baker Company
Encyclopedia
Established in 1897, Franklin Baker Company is one of the pioneer manufacturer and exporter of desiccated, processed, and specialty coconut
products in the U.S.
and international markets. It is responsible for manufacturing retail coconut brands such as Baker's Coconut.
The business coconut products are manufactured in two facilities in the Philippines
, located in San Pablo City
and Davao del Sur
. The company operates marketing offices in Memphis
, United States
and Northolt
, United Kingdom
.
, a flour miller, saw the enormous potential of desiccated (pre-processed) coconuts in the U.S. market. Looking for a primary source of coconuts, he came to the Philippines. In 1921, he and his son, Franklin Baker Jr., put up plant facilities in Santa Mesa
, Manila. In 1927, General Foods Corporation acquired the company. Plant facilities were transferred to San Pablo, Laguna, where coconut plantations were abundant. In 1968, General Foods put up another plant for Franklin Baker in Davao to ensure steady coconut supply for all its local and international customers.
In 1987, Philip Morris
, owners of General Foods, bought Kraft
. The Franklin Baker desiccated coconut products were put into the Kraft Food Ingredients Group. The Franklin Baker desiccated coconut products were branded as Baker’s. In 2004, Kraft, realizing that coconut products were not totally aligned with its core businesses, decided to sell the Franklin Baker industrial product lines. Out of the many companies that put in their bids, Kraft selected Andorra Investments Corporation.
Today, the legacy of Mr. Franklin Baker, Sr., originally begun in 1897, continues.
Andorra Ventures Corporation is an investment company that was set up in 2005. It was established primarily to manage the annual US$100,000 Robert V. Chandran
Venture Capital Award. This Award is a five-year commitment beginning in 2005 to provide angel capital financing up to US$100,000 to deserving business ventures of MBA students of the Asian Institute of Management.
In addition to managing the award, Andorra Ventures Corp. serves as the vehicle for Philippine investments for Andorra Services Limited, Hong Kong, which is into shipping and shipping-related businesses. Andorra Ventures Corp. is also affiliated, through Mr. Chandran, with the Chemoil Group of Companies, the world’s largest independent bunker fuel supplier, with diversified interests in oil trading, shipping and oil terminals in the United States, Panama
, Monaco
, Rotterdam
, Antwerp, and Singapore
.
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
products in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and international markets. It is responsible for manufacturing retail coconut brands such as Baker's Coconut.
The business coconut products are manufactured in two facilities in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, located in San Pablo City
San Pablo City
The City of San Pablo , a first class city in the province of Laguna, Philippines, is one of the country's oldest cities. The City of San Pablo lies in the southern portion of Laguna province...
and Davao del Sur
Davao del Sur
Davao del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Digos City. The province is bordered by Davao City to the north, and Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani to the west. To the east lies the Davao Gulf...
. The company operates marketing offices in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Northolt
Northolt
Northolt is a town in the London Borough of Ealing, England. The town has London Underground and Network Rail stations and is on the A40 road...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
History
The story of the Franklin Baker Company begins in 1897 in Philadelphia, Pa., when Franklin BakerFranklin Baker
Franklin Baker, a flour miller in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, started the business's desiccated coconut business in 1895.At that time, Baker received a cargo of fresh coconuts from Cuba in payment for a consignment of flour he exported. Baker searched for a buyer for the coconuts,...
, a flour miller, saw the enormous potential of desiccated (pre-processed) coconuts in the U.S. market. Looking for a primary source of coconuts, he came to the Philippines. In 1921, he and his son, Franklin Baker Jr., put up plant facilities in Santa Mesa
Santa Mesa, Manila
Santa Mesa is one of the 16 geographical districts of the city of Manila, which is primarily a residential, commercial and educational center. Santa Mesa is bounded by several districts and cities...
, Manila. In 1927, General Foods Corporation acquired the company. Plant facilities were transferred to San Pablo, Laguna, where coconut plantations were abundant. In 1968, General Foods put up another plant for Franklin Baker in Davao to ensure steady coconut supply for all its local and international customers.
In 1987, Philip Morris
Altria Group
Altria Group, Inc. is based in Henrico County, Virginia, and is the parent company of Philip Morris USA, John Middleton, Inc., U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, Inc., Philip Morris Capital Corporation, and Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. It is one of the world's largest tobacco corporations...
, owners of General Foods, bought Kraft
Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
. The Franklin Baker desiccated coconut products were put into the Kraft Food Ingredients Group. The Franklin Baker desiccated coconut products were branded as Baker’s. In 2004, Kraft, realizing that coconut products were not totally aligned with its core businesses, decided to sell the Franklin Baker industrial product lines. Out of the many companies that put in their bids, Kraft selected Andorra Investments Corporation.
Today, the legacy of Mr. Franklin Baker, Sr., originally begun in 1897, continues.
Andorra Ventures Corporation is an investment company that was set up in 2005. It was established primarily to manage the annual US$100,000 Robert V. Chandran
Robert Chandran
Robert Viswanathan Chandran was an Indian-born Singaporean business executive, and the founder and CEO of the Chemoil company....
Venture Capital Award. This Award is a five-year commitment beginning in 2005 to provide angel capital financing up to US$100,000 to deserving business ventures of MBA students of the Asian Institute of Management.
In addition to managing the award, Andorra Ventures Corp. serves as the vehicle for Philippine investments for Andorra Services Limited, Hong Kong, which is into shipping and shipping-related businesses. Andorra Ventures Corp. is also affiliated, through Mr. Chandran, with the Chemoil Group of Companies, the world’s largest independent bunker fuel supplier, with diversified interests in oil trading, shipping and oil terminals in the United States, Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
, Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, Antwerp, and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.