The Tradition of Healthy Choices

This booklet was published by Worthington Foods during its fiftieth year in the vegetable protein food business. It includes product and company information, in addition to a detailed history of Worthington Foods.

In 1989 Ronald McDermott, with a graduate degree from Ohio State University in the field of food technology and nutrition, joined the company as a Vice President and Director of Research and Development. Included among his duties was that of serving as Director of Quality Assurance and supervision of plant sanitation. Improvements in product consumer acceptance and in nutritional values continued to be strong goals of the company at this time. The results of Dr. McDermott's skills in these areas soon became apparent. New products were added the lines already being produced and marketed. Within a few years Dr. McDermott was elected Secretary of the corporation.

In 1990 Worthington Foods Inc. acquired the vegetable protein food business of the Loma Linda Food Co. The transaction included rights to manufacture and sell all Loma Linda products except soy milk. The purchase included recipes, formulas, and equipment but did not include the factory or any real estate.

Because of the continued need for more capital to provide for a rapidly growing business the owners of the Company decided to go public with its stock in 1992. The initial public offering was successful and the stock was listed on the NASDAQ exchange where it was well received by the investment market. The market value of the stock increased from the initial price of a slightly over $11.00 per share to more that $20.00 per share over the next six years.