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| 1950 EL begins to diversify |
| In 1950, EL turned to opportunities in the dairy industry, for which sanitation was a major problem. In fact, because of improper cleaning and refrigeration, milk had a refrigerated shelf life of three days at best. With new products and equipment, EL delivered superior results. The new Dairy Division served Minnesota, northern Iowa and western Wisconsin. |
| 1955 Soilax goes international |
| In the early '50s, prospects outside the United States sought EL products. By 1955, there was enough business in Canada to form a sales territory there, and the company contracted with a Canadian manufacturer in 1955 to handle production. The first European subsidiary, Soilax A.B. Sweden, was formed in 1956 when a Scandinavian Airlines System executive became impressed with EL's product performance at a New York airport flight kitchen. He invested in the development of a Stockholm subsidiary, which eventually opened the door for expansion into Norway, Denmark and Belgium, followed by England and the rest of western Europe. Soilax de Mexico was formed in 1958, which triggered a rapid expansion in the Western Hemisphere. |
| 1957 A public stock offering |
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Prior to 1956, the Osborn family, company employees and a few private investors, to whom M.J. himself would grant permission to purchase stock, owned EL. In 1957, with annual sales of $28 million and a net worth of about $3 million, EL made its first public offering of 100,000 shares to finance growth and product acquisitions. |
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