History
1846 – 1890
Starch becomes hugely successful, producing large, heavy cubes
of starch for use by commercial laundries. The commercial starch manufacturing process leaves small lumps of starch that requires
re-processing or disposal. A clever employee proposes recovering
the small lumps of starch and marketing 1-pound pieces to the
home launderer.
1858
The manufacture of corn starch was first undertaken in Canada
in 1858 when W.T. Benson established a manufacturing plant in Edwardsburg Township, eventually to become the Village of Cardinal. Astonishingly, corn processinghas continued on this site since then
under the Edwardsburg Starch Company, The Canada Starch Company, Casco Inc. and today under Corn Products Inc. Mr. Benson’s legacy
lives on with the Benson’s Corn Starch brand, first introduced to
the market in 1921.
1998
The production of retail corn starch – Benson’s® and Canada Corn
Starch – was transferred from Cardinal Ontario to BestFoods’ plant
in Chicago, Illinois. These products continue to be produced from this facility (called Argo) under ACH Food Companies, Inc.
