Kingsford is a brand that makes charcoal briquettes, along with related products, used for grilling. Established in 1920 by Henry Ford, the brand is now owned by the Clorox Company. Currently, the Kingsford Products Company remains the leading manufacturer of charcoal in the United States, with 80% market share. More than 1 million tons of wood scraps are converted into charcoal briquettes annually.[1]
History
The Ford Motor Company sold more than one million Ford Model Ts in 1919. Each one used 100 board feet of wood for parts such as the frame, dashboard, steering wheel, and wheels. Because of the amount of wood needed, Henry Ford decided to produce his own supply. He enlisted the help of Edward G. Kingsford, a real estate agent and timber cruiser from Michigan, to locate a supply of wood. Kingsford's wife was a cousin of Ford.[2] In the early 1920s, Ford acquired large timberland in Iron Mountain, Michigan, and built a