Second Worthington Foods Factory

In 1945 construction of a new manufacturing plant for Worthington Foods was begun. The new factory made primarily of cement blocks was located adjacent to the old one on Proprietors Road. The end of World War II brought new challenges as well as new opportunities. The end of meat rationing that had created a temporary and somewhat unnatural demand for vegetarian foods during wartime raised a new problem for the company; how to replace an important segment of the market when that market evaporates? In December 1945 Special Foods became a privately held corporation doing business under the name Worthington Foods, Inc. That year the business had a sales volume of $263,450. It was the only full year in its history that the company lost money.

In 1946 Warren E. Hartman joined the company as its director of product development and quality control. He had earned a masters degree in biochemistry from Michigan State University. Allan Buller and Warren had become friends at Andrews University. During his school years at Andrews, Allan had taken a year off to work for Dr. John H. Kellogg, a pioneer in the development of dry cereals, peanut butter, and soy milk. It was W. K. Kellogg, a brother of John H, who envisioned commercial possibilities in the manufacture of dry cereals and became founder of the Kellogg Cereal company in Battle Creek, Michigan which became world famous for its corn flakes and other cereal products.

In 1948 Dr. George Harding was called to serve as President of Loma Linda University Medical School located in Loma Linda, California. Dr. Harding was an alumnus of that school. James L. Hagle was elected President of Worthington Foods, and Allan Buller was appointed to serve as General Manager, Secretary, and Treasurer. Mr. Hagle accepted appointment as the Administrator of Harding Sanitarium, a position in which he served for 21 years. He continued to serve as President of the food company on a part time basis until 1969 when he retired from Harding Sanitarium to devote full time to the growing food company.