Acquisitions and diversifications
Ralston Purina acquired Australian food manufacturer Robert Harper & Co. in the early 1960s.[5]
In 1974, Ralston Purina purchased and further developed the Keystone ski resort in Colorado. "Checkerboard Flats" for kids and beginners at Keystone[6] still bears their logo. In 1993, Ralston Purina also bought Breckenridge ski area for an undisclosed amount, from Victoria U.S.A. Inc, a Japanese sporting goods retailer.[7] However, both ski resorts were sold in 1997 to Vail Resorts for $331 million.[8]
In 1977, Ralston Purina acquired Missouri Arena Corporation and the St. Louis Blues National Hockey League franchise. During the company's ownership of the team, they changed the name of the St. Louis Arena to the Checkerdome, reflecting the Ralston Purina logo. The franchise was sold to Harry Ornest on July 27, 1983.
Ralston Purina purchased the Eveready Battery Company in 1986,[9] owner of the Eveready and Energizer brands. The company was spun off in 2000.
Ralston Purina purchased Continental Baking Company, makers of Wonder bread and Hostess cakes, from ITT in 1984. Ralston spun off Continental Baking Company, subsequently bought by Irving, Texas–based Interstate Brands Corporation (IBC).[10]
Ralston Purina opened test market pizza stores called Checkerboard Pizza in 1986. The format was similar to Domino's and Little Caesars. They opened the stores in markets such as Moorhead, Minnesota, to test how the Midwestern market would accept the concept. They did well, but Ralston Purina decided not to enter the pizza franchise business and closed all pilots by late 1987.
Ralston Purina also owned Jack in the Box fast food restaurants from 1968 to 1985,[11] along with several high-end restaurants.[12][13]
Ralston Purina owned Van Camp Sea Food Company from 1963 to 1988, a tuna cannery with Chicken of the Sea as its main product.[14]
Ralston Purina owned an animal pharmaceutical company in the 1970s and 1980s.
Protein Technologies International was a wholly owned subsidiary of Ralston Purina making soy protein products since 1958. It was purchased by DuPont in 1997 for $1.554 billion and later became Solae.
