PBI-Gordon celebrates 70th anniversary

The Private Brands Inc. building in the 1950s.

PBI-Gordon is celebrating its 70th anniversary this month.

Initially named Private Brands Inc. (PBI) on Oct. 8, 1947, the company was founded by John Mueller and his son Robert Mueller, John Mathias and Roy Boxmeyer. Then in 1956, PBI acquired customer and fellow Kansas City company Gordon Chemical. The combined entity changed its name to PBI-Gordon Corp. in 1970.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the company continued to expand its portfolio of private label agricultural pesticides and specialty products. PBI-Gordon became the licensee—in 1968—to combine active ingredients 2,4-D, MCPP and dicamba. This gave the company the exclusive patent rights to the formulation in the U.S.

That product, which was initially marketed as Fairway herbicide, was later renamed Trimec Herbicide. The first gallon ever sold was to Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla.

“I have been with PBI-Gordon since 1951,” said Everett Mealman, chairman of PBI-Gordon. “Through the years, our mission to create and deliver healthier solutions through dependable products, thoughtful innovations, and impeccable service has never changed. Of course, none of this would be possible if it wasn’t for the pride our employee-owners have in their jobs, and their collective focus on delivering shared success to our customers and suppliers.”

The company, which became 100 percent employee-owned in 2002, is currently pursuing an aggressive 10-year growth plan that includes investment in manufacturing and warehouse facilities and the reformulation of products to reduce costs and improve efficacy.

In addition to its leadership position in the professional and consumer pest management industries, PBI-Gordon has diversified into contract manufacturing, and the consumer and veterinary animal health industries.