- Great American Business Leaders of the Twentieth Century
Clarence Francis
General Foods Corporation
1935 - 1943
Food & Tobacco
| Military Service | NY State Guard |
|---|
b. 1888
| Education |  |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Amherst College |
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Born-Died | 1888 - 1985 |
| Birthplace | New York (NY) |
| Race | White |
| Father | Professional |
Francis oversaw General Foods with a product line that included the successful Post cereals, Maxwell House and Sanka Coffee, Log Cabin Syrup and Jell-O. After absorbing an initial $17 million loss in the frozen foods sector, Francis was able to turn a profit in this very important market. In 1942, after twelve years of research, Francis’ General Foods finally shipped their first instant coffee product, which was sent to U.S. forces overseas.