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Missouri History Today

Purina Company was Founded

by Missouri Life

On January 8, 1894, Ralston Purina is founded as the Robinson-Danforth Commission Company. William Danforth opened a small feed store near the St. Louis riverfront in 1894; the company became Ralston Purina in 1902. The company traced its early growth to animal foods that included the name “Chow” and became a household name when it introduced breakfast cereals.

Based upon content from the book Missouri 365: This Day in Missouri History by John W. Brown, broadcaster and Missouri historian. Get your copy at Reedy Press.

Image from Flickr by Paul Sableman licensed under CC 2.0