1883
C.H. James established by Charles H. James as a bartering business that evolves into a wholesale fruit and produce distribution house serving independent grocers and restaurants.
1916
Company changes name to C.H. James & Son to reflect E. L. James joining his father as a partner in the business.
1916
Company builds three story warehouse with railcar siding as new corporate headquarters
1927
C. H. James retires; E. L. James assumes control of business.
1929
C. H. James passes and company is reorganized during the Great Depression as James Produce Company. Product line is expanded to encompass poultry and egg processing and distribution in West Virginia and Ohio.
1945
E. L. James, Jr. joins the firm after graduate work at Ohio State and serving in the U. S. Navy in World War II.
1956
C. H. James, II joins the business after graduating from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and serving in the Air Force.
1960’s
Product lines are extended to fresh, frozen and canned fruits, vegetables and proteins. Clientele broadens to state institutions as well as the newly emerging foodservice market including such pioneers as Kentucky Fried Chicken. Revenues exceed $1 million annually.
1967
E. L. James passes and C. H. James, II succeeds his father as President.
1973
James Produce, reorganized as state’s largest distributor of poultry and eggs, relocates to a modern warehouse with state-of-the-art refrigeration and frozen storage and doubles its capacity.
1976
C. H. James & Company profiled in Black Enterprise magazine as the oldest and as one of the largest Black Business in the United States.
1985
C. H. James, III joins the business after receiving his M.B.A. From the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
1986
C. H. James & Co. is certified as an 8(a) contractor and expands market to include the U.S. Department of Defense, Agriculture and the Veterans Administration.
1988
C. H. James III acquires company and is named President and Chief Executive Officer.
1991
Between 1988 and 1991, the company was recognized as Regional or National Minority Contractor of the Year by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Commerce, and Small Business Administration. The company also received a commendation from the U.S Department of Defense for its contributions in Operation Desert Storm.
1992
Company earns $18 million in revenues generating a seven year compounded annual growth rate of 31% and is named Company of the Year by Black Enterprise.
1992
C. H. James spins off its local distribution business and acquires controlling interest in North American Produce a dedicated pre-cut processor for McDonalds.
1994
Acquires through its interest in North American Produce, a 40% interest in Australian based Ewen Marketing, the principle supplier for McDonalds in Australia and Asia.
1998
Total corporate revenues exceed $30 million.
1999
C. H. James divests its interest in North American Produce to Taylor Farms in an industry consolidation but retains produce supply contracts to Wendy’s and Darden.
2003
Forms strategic alliance with Goldman Sachs to acquire and operate middle market food processing companies to satisfy demand for supplier diversity in the food service industry.
2004
C. H. James Restaurant Holdings LLC formed in partnership with Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group and acquires 37 Burger King restaurants in Chicago. Annual revenues exceed $50 million.
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