Van Camp's
Encyclopedia
Van Camp’s is a brand
of canned beans currently owned by ConAgra Foods, Inc. Their products typically consist of beans stewed in a flavored sauce. Van Camp's has for some time been the second best selling brand of baked beans
in the United States
competing with Bush's Baked Beans.
The brand originated in 1861 in the Indianapolis
grocery store
of Gilbert and Hester Van Camp, who canned
fruits and vegetables for their own shop. They obtained a U.S. Army contract during the American Civil War
to can and ship pork and beans
to the troops. Their son, Frank, is credited with the development of the modern canned pork and beans recipe
, by adding tomatoes from the family's preserved vegetable business to the traditional salt pork
-based sauce, and went on to found Van Camp Seafood
.
The firm is considered to have been a trend-setter in the canned foods industry, and by 1909, Van Camp’s was the dominant vendor of pork and beans. In 1933, it was acquired by James and John Stokely, who operated the Stokely canned tomato
company in Newport, Tennessee
, forming Stokely-Van Camp, Inc. In 1983, the brand passed to Quaker Oats when it purchased Stokely-Van Camp. Quaker Oats, in turn, sold off the Stokely brand in 1985, and sold Van Camp's to ConAgra in 1995.
Over the years, a number of canned goods have been sold under the Van Camp’s name, but it only sells canned cooked beans, including pork and beans, baked beans
, butter beans, kidney beans, a vegetarian variant of its pork and bean recipe, and “Beanee Weenee” - a mixture of beans with slices of hot dog
made of beef and chicken in a tomato sauce.
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
of canned beans currently owned by ConAgra Foods, Inc. Their products typically consist of beans stewed in a flavored sauce. Van Camp's has for some time been the second best selling brand of baked beans
Baked beans
Baked beans is a dish containing beans, sometimes baked but, despite the name, usually stewed, in a sauce. Most commercial canned baked beans are made from haricot beans, also known as navy beans – a variety of Phaseolus vulgaris – in a sauce. In Ireland and the United Kingdom, a tomato...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
competing with Bush's Baked Beans.
The brand originated in 1861 in the Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
grocery store
Grocery store
A grocery store is a store that retails food. A grocer, the owner of a grocery store, stocks different kinds of foods from assorted places and cultures, and sells these "groceries" to customers. Large grocery stores that stock products other than food, such as clothing or household items, are...
of Gilbert and Hester Van Camp, who canned
Canning
Canning is a method of preserving food in which the food contents are processed and sealed in an airtight container. Canning provides a typical shelf life ranging from one to five years, although under specific circumstances a freeze-dried canned product, such as canned, dried lentils, can last as...
fruits and vegetables for their own shop. They obtained a U.S. Army contract during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
to can and ship pork and beans
Pork and beans
Pork and beans is a culinary dish that uses pork and beans as its main ingredients. Numerous variations exist from Fabada Asturiana to Olla podrida to American canned pork and beans.-American canned pork and beans:...
to the troops. Their son, Frank, is credited with the development of the modern canned pork and beans recipe
Recipe
A recipe is a set of instructions that describe how to prepare or make something, especially a culinary dish.-Components:Modern culinary recipes normally consist of several components*The name of the dish...
, by adding tomatoes from the family's preserved vegetable business to the traditional salt pork
Salt pork
Salt pork or white bacon is salt-cured pork. It is prepared from one of three primal cuts: pork side, pork belly, or fatback. Depending on the cut, respectively, salt pork may be lean, streaky or entirely fatty. Made from the same cuts as bacon, salt pork resembles uncut slab bacon, but is...
-based sauce, and went on to found Van Camp Seafood
Chicken of the Sea
Chicken of the Sea is a brand of canned tuna produced by a company owned by Thai Union Group.-Company:Based in San Diego, California, the company markets a variety of other seafood items under the Chicken of the Sea brand name, including clam, crab, mackerel, salmon, sardines and tuna...
.
The firm is considered to have been a trend-setter in the canned foods industry, and by 1909, Van Camp’s was the dominant vendor of pork and beans. In 1933, it was acquired by James and John Stokely, who operated the Stokely canned tomato
Tomato
The word "tomato" may refer to the plant or the edible, typically red, fruit which it bears. Originating in South America, the tomato was spread around the world following the Spanish colonization of the Americas, and its many varieties are now widely grown, often in greenhouses in cooler...
company in Newport, Tennessee
Newport, Tennessee
Newport is a city in Cocke County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 7,242 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cocke County.-Geography:...
, forming Stokely-Van Camp, Inc. In 1983, the brand passed to Quaker Oats when it purchased Stokely-Van Camp. Quaker Oats, in turn, sold off the Stokely brand in 1985, and sold Van Camp's to ConAgra in 1995.
Over the years, a number of canned goods have been sold under the Van Camp’s name, but it only sells canned cooked beans, including pork and beans, baked beans
Baked beans
Baked beans is a dish containing beans, sometimes baked but, despite the name, usually stewed, in a sauce. Most commercial canned baked beans are made from haricot beans, also known as navy beans – a variety of Phaseolus vulgaris – in a sauce. In Ireland and the United Kingdom, a tomato...
, butter beans, kidney beans, a vegetarian variant of its pork and bean recipe, and “Beanee Weenee” - a mixture of beans with slices of hot dog
Hot dog
A hot dog is a sausage served in a sliced bun. It is very often garnished with mustard, ketchup, onions, mayonnaise, relish and/or sauerkraut.-History:...
made of beef and chicken in a tomato sauce.
External links
- Van Camp's - Official Website
- Van Camp's Overview & History - At ConAgra’s Corporate Website