[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18912]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO CAMPBELL SOUP ON THE OCCASION OF THE FIFTIETH 
        ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAPOLEON OHIO MANUFACTURING FACILITY

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                          HON. PAUL E. GILLMOR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 11, 2007

  Mr. GILLMOR. Madam Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay tribute to 
a special company in northwest Ohio. On July 17, 2007, the Campbell 
Soup Company will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the largest soup 
manufacturing facility in the world, located in the town of Napoleon, 
in the heart of northwest Ohio.
  When Campbell's first came to Napoleon, the town of 5,500 was located 
just 16 miles from what was then the ``new'' Ohio turnpike alongside 
some of the most fertile farms in the United States. The combination of 
abundant resources, a strong transportation network and a terrific work 
force all helped bring Campbell's to value northwest Ohio.
  Few would dispute that the growth of Napoleon to a city of more than 
9,000 citizens is tied to the progress of the Campbell's facility. Only 
50 years ago, the first cans of Chicken and Rice Soup came off the 
Napoleon assembly line. With the popularity of products such as canned 
spaghetti and V8 juice, today the Napoleon facility manufactures nearly 
100 million individual products from almost 500 different varieties, 
ranging from Prego sauces to Swanson broth, and Campbell's full 
offering of beverage and soup items.
  With 65 acres under roof, including more than 2 million square feet 
to manufacture Campbell's trademark soups, the Napoleon facility 
remains among Campbell's and the food processing industry's most modern 
and sophisticated facilities. In almost every year since 1957, 
Campbell's has invested in new technology at Napoleon that has helped 
to reach the heights of efficient, quality production that it is 
legendary for today, from vegetable sorting machines in 1960 to a new 
plastic bottle expansion in 2004.
  Campbell's hasn't just been Napoleon's biggest employer, but also a 
terrific neighbor and friend to the community and all of northwest 
Ohio. It started in 1957 with a $100,000 contribution by Campbell's to 
expand the local hospital, the first of many such donations by 
Campbell's to improve the community over these past five decades.
  Madam Speaker, the real success of Napoleon's Campbell Soup Facility 
comes not only from its products, but from its people. I have walked 
this plant, sat in the break room, greeted employees working the lines, 
and even had a V8 or two. I can tell you firsthand that what makes the 
Campbell's Soup plant in Napoleon special are its dedicated employees.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying special 
tribute to the employees and the legacy of Campbell's Napoleon 
facility. Campbell's Napoleon facility has a rich and storied history 
of contributions made by thousands of Ohioans who have made their 
careers there. We're proud to have such a terrific company like 
Campbell's in northwest Ohio and look forward to many more years of 
success.

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