Leadership

By 1966, Cummings had grown Consolidated Foods into the nation’s fastest growing food processor, with sales of $830 million. Cummings’ most significant acquisition was Sara Lee, which he purchased in 1956 and grew into the nation’s leading brand of frozen pastries. Cummings pushed to make Consolidated Foods a full-fledged conglomerate, acquiring companies such as the Fuller Brush Company, Abbey Rents and Tyco Industries. Cummings’ efforts were successful, and by the end of his tenure, Consolidated Foods was a $2 billion dollar conglomerate.