History

Home Why Golden History

Golden’s global leadership in peanuts dates back to the 1950s. Our deep commitment to the industry has helped us develop world-renowned expertise that we share with growers, manufacturers and others in the global peanut and tree nut industry.

What follows is a summary of Golden’s growth through the decades, including the days when the Cotton Producers Association bought peanut-shelling operations in the southern U.S.

1950sCotton Producers form Gold Kist Peanuts
1964
Gold Kist buys peanut plants in Texas and Virginia
1980ADM buys Southern Cotton Oil and Carter Warehouse
1981ADM buys Columbian Peanut Company
1986
Golden Peanut Company forms through ADM and Gold Kist joint venture
1989
Alimenta joins Golden Peanut partnership
1992Golden Peanut buys Dothan Oil Mill
2000Cargill joins Golden Peanut partnership, including operations in Argentina
2001Ownership of Golden Peanut is consolidated among Cargill, ADM and Alimenta
2002
Golden Peanut ownership is consolidated among ADM and Alimenta. Golden acquires Dawson, Georgia, oil mill
2004Golden builds specialty products plant in Blakely, Georgia for peanut flour, aromatic peanut oil and peanut extract
2007Golden oil refinery opens in Dawson
2010ADM acquires Alimenta interest
2013
Golden Peanut acquires 80 percent ownership in the assets of P- Farm Agente, one of South Africa’s leading peanut processors, and 50 percent ownership in the assets of South Africa Pecans, its affiliated pecan business
2014Golden Peanut acquires assets of SA Groundnut Marketing in South Africa
2014Golden Peanut becomes Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts
2014Golden acquires Harrell Nut Company, a leading processor and sheller of pecans.
2017Golden acquires tree nut processing plants in California and forms the Processing and Distribution division.