In 1937, C.L. Williams started putting chili seasoning in small brown bags at his home in Webb City, Missouri. Of course this wasn’t just any chili seasoning. It was a zesty, delicious blend of pure spices (no cheating with flour and fillers). Soon it could be found in many midwestern households, and Williams Foods grew. Conrad Hock, Jr. bought the company in 1963, and by 1984 moved to a larger facility in Lenexa, Kansas, where it operates today. Williams Foods is still proud of its chili seasoning, which remains one of its most popular products.

And there’s even more to be proud of now. Williams is a leader in the food manufacturing industry with products ranging from chili and taco seasoning, to brown and country gravy, to canned chili beans and diced tomatoes. In 1998, Williams purchased SunBird, an Asian line of sauces and seasoning mixes. Today SunBird has widespread distribution across North America and has added dry soup mixes and liquid marinades to the line-up. 

Williams Foods boasts more than 200 employees, over 100 retail products and hundreds more with our private label, industrial and foodservice divisions. Our Private Label division works with many national companies to produce a line of products using their individual labeling. While our Industrial and Foodservice divisions do custom blends supplied to major manufacturers, school systems, and restaurants. A full Research & Development lab facilities keep Williams on the cutting edge of consumer taste trends and second-to-none Quality Assurance procedures follow good manufacturing practices to the letter. Concern for continued quality in product, and personal touch in service, is the foundation at Williams, whose employees say, "Good Taste Runs in the Family."

March, 2008 - C.H. Guenther & Son, Inc.  (CHG) acquires  Williams Foods, Inc., Dale W. Tremblay, President and CEO of CHG, complemented Mr. Conrad "Jim" Hock. "Jim and his team have done a tremendous job over the past 50-plus years in taking the Williams brand beyond its original niche in chili seasoning, and broadening the business across a multitude of brands and product offerings. We expect this company to be a very nice complement to our consumer business, which includes strong brands like Pioneer and White Wings.

Dale said "I am very pleased to see this great company be merged into C.H. Guenther & Son." They have an incredible legacy of more than 157 years of private ownership and a commitment to quality and service. We look forward to working to take  the Williams business to the next level."