Finally in 1955, we gave up our jobs and set out on that challenge from a small office in the Woolworth Building
in New York, under the name, 'Marine and Animal By-Products Corp.', with my personal savings as our capital.
In 1962, due to our explosive growth and success importing and exporting all types of animal feed ingredients -
especially fishmeal and fishoil - we changed our name to International Proteins Coporation (IPC) and became publicly
traded. In 1969, our shares were listed on The American Stock Exchange in New York. A major event! In the meantime, we had opened
the first of our many terminals, in Bayonne, New Jersey and several foreign offices in Europe and South America under
the name Animalfeeds International Corporation.
During the 1960's we began investing in fishmeal production and purchased 6 fishmeal factories with a fleet of 68
fishing boats in Peru. We subsequently owned production facilities in West Africa, and the USA,
and had interests in fishmeal plants in Canada and Chile. During the 70's and 80's our reach expanded into other
businesses; the import of frozen and canned fish and seafood; operating shrimp boats, shrimp farms, and processing
plants in Panama and Ecuador; aquisition of a cottonseed processing mill in Texas, salmon farming businesses in Chile
and Scotland, and a tuna cannery in California. The company even acquired a controlling interest in a chain of family
restuarants in the United States.
In 1989, Pierre and I privatized our core business - the Protein and Trading Division. To secure the continuity of the
corporation, we started the process of having key managers become owners of the company. This process was accelerated
after the death of Mr. Petrou in 1993.
With the new millenium upon us, we remain focused on fulfilling the protein and fat procurement needs of animal feed
producers around the wrold. We envision a world where protein demand continues to pressure protein supply, accelerating a
trend which has already begun. To compete in this environment, we have located our offices and staff strategically throughout
the Americas, each in an area rich in marine and animal protein sources, to better serve our customers' global needs with
local expertise. In 1998, we opended a trading office in Lima, Peru and sold trading offices in Minnesota and California, along
with our name, in transactions that are proving to be well timed. Thus we have another name change, this time to
Animalfeeds International Corporation, a name well remembered in many circles.
During our 45-year history we have had our share of disappointments, but all in all, we have been blessed with wonderful
success. During that time much has changed, but our enthusiasm for the business and our fondness for the friends we have
made remain constant. Utilizingg the knowledge and experience gained from 5 decades of uninterrupted service in the food
and feed industry, our goal is to be the best source of protein throughout the Americas. We look forward to continue
serving you under the "ANIMALFEEDS" banner.
- Celia Meilan, Vice President and Founder
