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OUR STORY

It all began with a flour miller receiving coconuts as payment from his customer. Today, Franklin Baker has evolved into a global business, supplying world-class quality coconut ingredients to food and beverage manufacturers around the world for over 125 years.

1890s:

Born in Adversity

Franklin Baker Sr., a flour miller in Philadelphia, USA, was paid a boatload of coconuts instead of cash by one of his customers. Unable to find any takers, he turned this unconventional payment into a convenient ready-to-use desiccated coconut for baking and aptly named it Baker’s Shredded Coconut.

1900s:

Breaking Grounds

Mr.Baker pioneers a small desiccated coconut processing plant in his Philadelphia hometown.

1910s:

Taking the Plunge

Together with his son, Franklin Jr., Mr. Baker put up the family’s first coconut manufacturing plant in Brooklyn, New York.

1920s:

Venture with a Vision

After visiting the Philippines in 1921, father and son established the Philippine Food Company, opening its first desiccated coconut factory in Sta. Mesa, Manila in 1922. By 1926, production facility was moved to San Pablo, Laguna and was renamed Franklin Baker of the Philippines. A year after (1927), Postum Cereal Company, later known as General Foods Corporation, acquired Franklin Baker.

1930s:

Business Booms

General Foods acknowledges the pioneering efforts of Franklin Baker in growing the market for coconut among American home makers and professional bakers. This rising demand boosts the coconut industry and drives San Pablo’s taxable wealth at par with the cities of Cebu and Iloilo in the Visayas.

1940s:

In a Whirlpool

Business takes an unexpected turn as WWII escalates, with the San Pablo plant shutting down in 1941 after being bombed by the Japanese forces. Manufacturing process was moved back to the United States to ensure continuity of operations. Despite the detainment of the company’s President and General Manager between 1941 to 1945, the San Pablo plant was eventually rebuilt and resumed operations in 1947.

1950s:

Rising from the Ashes

As global business gets back on its feet, Franklin Baker goes overdrive to meet growing demand for coconut products.

1960s:

No Turning Back

By 1968, Franklin Baker’s second production facility and first outside Luzon was opened in Coronon, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.

1970s:

Paying it Forward

Collaboration opens new opportunities to raise production levels and community outreach work strengthen ties with local farmers.

1980s:

Acquisition and Mergers

Philip Morris acquires General Foods USA and Kraft Foods in 1985 and 1988 respectively, folding in the desiccated coconut business. Known as the Franklin Baker Division, this becomes part of Kraft Food Ingredients Corporation later on.

1990s:

Foothold on Quality

San Pablo Plant becomes the first ISO 9002-1987 certified desiccated coconut manufacturing plant in the world in 1994.

2000s:

Rethinking the Business

With Kraft deciding to focus on its core business, Andorra Investments Corporation (formerly known as Andorra Ventures Corporation) acquires Franklin Baker from Kraft, outbidding other companies in 2006.

2010s:

In Full Throttle

Franklin Baker’s first water processing facility rises in San Pablo plant in 2011, while its third manufacturing and first PEZA registered plant opens in Darong, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur in 2015, further expanding its portfolio to coconut water, virgin coconut oil and coconut flour. Certification of Environmental Standards GmBH (CERES) and Fair Trade USA certifications were also received in 2015.

2020s:

World Class Quality with a Heart

With a purposive thrust on sustainability, Franklin Baker continues its mission to promote its advocacy of supporting the coconut industry and its farmers, while leveraging on its enduring heritage and legacy of quality.

Born in Adversity

Franklin Baker Sr., a flour miller in Philadelphia, USA, was paid a boatload of coconuts instead of cash by one of his customers. Unable to find any takers, he turned this unconventional payment into a convenient ready-to-use desiccated coconut for baking and aptly named it Baker’s Shredded Coconut.

Breaking Grounds

Mr.Baker pioneers a small desiccated coconut processing plant in his Philadelphia hometown.

Taking the Plunge

Together with his son, Franklin Jr., Mr. Baker put up the family’s first coconut manufacturing plant in Brooklyn, New York.

Venture with a Vision

After visiting the Philippines in 1921, father and son established the Philippine Food Company, opening its first desiccated coconut factory in Sta. Mesa, Manila in 1922. By 1926, production facility was moved to San Pablo, Laguna and was renamed Franklin Baker of the Philippines. A year after (1927), Postum Cereal Company, later known as General Foods Corporation, acquired Franklin Baker.

Business Booms

General Foods acknowledges the pioneering efforts of Franklin Baker in growing the market for coconut among American home makers and professional bakers. This rising demand boosts the coconut industry and drives San Pablo’s taxable wealth at par with the cities of Cebu and Iloilo in the Visayas.

In a Whirlpool

Business takes an unexpected turn as WWII escalates, with the San Pablo plant shutting down in 1941 after being bombed by the Japanese forces. Manufacturing process was moved back to the United States to ensure continuity of operations. Despite the detainment of the company’s President and General Manager between 1941 to 1945, the San Pablo plant was eventually rebuilt and resumed operations in 1947.

Rising from the Ashes

As global business gets back on its feet, Franklin Baker goes overdrive to meet growing demand for coconut products.

No Turning Back

By 1968, Franklin Baker’s second production facility and first outside Luzon was opened in Coronon, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.

Paying it Forward

Collaboration opens new opportunities to raise production levels and community outreach work strengthen ties with local farmers.

Acquisition and Mergers

Philip Morris acquires General Foods USA and Kraft Foods in 1985 and 1988 respectively, folding in the desiccated coconut business. Known as the Franklin Baker Division, this becomes part of Kraft Food Ingredients Corporation later on.

Foothold on Quality

San Pablo Plant becomes the first ISO 9002-1987 certified desiccated coconut manufacturing plant in the world in 1994.

Rethinking the Business

With Kraft deciding to focus on its core business, Andorra Investments Corporation (formerly known as Andorra Ventures Corporation) acquires Franklin Baker from Kraft, outbidding other companies in 2006.

In Full Throttle

Franklin Baker’s first water processing facility rises in San Pablo plant in 2011, while its third manufacturing and first PEZA registered plant opens in Darong, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur in 2015, further expanding its portfolio to coconut water, virgin coconut oil and coconut flour. Certification of Environmental Standards GmBH (CERES) and Fair Trade USA certifications were also received in 2015.

World Class Quality with a Heart

With a purposive thrust on sustainability, Franklin Baker continues its mission to promote its advocacy of supporting the coconut industry and its farmers, while leveraging on its enduring heritage and legacy of quality.

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