Vintage Kemp's chocolate biscuit tin showing Dahlia flowers

Vintage Kemp's chocolate biscuit tin showing dahlia flowers. This lovely little tin would make a great keepsake or small sewing box some age-related wear.

-

10 cm tall

9 cm round

-

Kemps was founded in 1914 by William Henry Kemps (October 29, 1878 – October 2, 1964), formerly of St Louis, Missouri, who partnered with W.S. Lathrop after his Minneapolis candy company was near bankruptcy. The business was first known as Lathrop-Kemps Ice Cream Company, producing "special quality" Kemps Ice Cream. As part of the agreement, Lathrop would have to maintain his sobriety, as he had issues with alcoholism. This didn't happen, and Kemps would soon become the sole owner of the company. [3]

-

Kemps suffered from chronic health problems during his life. In 1921, the doctor advised that he may not be able to survive too many more winters in Minnesota. Kemps and his family visited California later that year. They would eventually purchase a home in Beverly Hills and move there in 1924. At the same time, Kemps sold his company to competitor Crescent Creamery of St Paul. Brothers Arthur, Howard and W.R. Cammack, who owned Crescent Creamery, would operate both businesses as Kemps-Crescent. [3]

-

In 1961, Kemps-Crescent would merge with Marigold Dairies of Rochester, Minnesota, and Dolly Madison Dairies of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to form Marigold Foods, Inc. [3][4] The company would merge with Ward Food Services of Maplewood, Minnesota, in 1968. Ten years later, Dutch company NV Wessanen Koninklijke Fabrieken (now Royal Wessanen) bought Marigold Foods from Ward Food Services. [5]

National Dairy Holdings purchased Marigold Foods and its subsidiaries from Royal Wessanen in 2001, only to be acquired by HP Hood three years later in a deal that also involved Crowley Foods of Binghamton, New York. Marigold Foods would be renamed Kemps LLC in 2002 as most products provided by the company were of the Kemps brand. In 2011, the company would be sold by HP Hood to Dairy Farmers of America.[3]