J. R. Simplot Company (or simply, Simplot) was founded in 1929 by John Richard (Jack or J.R.) Simplot. The Idahoan food company gained notoriety by working with McDonald’s in the 1960s. J.R. and McDonald’s founder Raymond Kroc shook over an agreement that Simplot would provide frozen potatoes to McDonald’s year-round, eliminating the quality control problem the restaurant had dealt with due to seasonal produce availability.
Before the company’s major economic boost from the McDonald’s deal, Simplot had served as a producer of dehydrated onions and potatoes to military personnel during WWII. The company gained substantial attention in 2014 when it announced the completion of the genetically modified “Innate” potato. The potato was approved by the USDA and FDA soon after.
Though the development seemed to be a scientific breakthrough, it was met with criticism from non-governmental environmentalists such as the Food and Water Watch, which petitioned McDonald’s to reject the incorporation of the Innate potato to their menu.
Simplot has had inconsistent interaction with environmental groups. Controversies sprung over its partnership with Monsanto throughout the 2000s.
In 2002, Simplot was fined for releasing 80,000 lbs of sulfur dioxide from an Idaho facility. It was also fined a $525,000 fee in 2004 for violations of the federal Clean Air Act at a mining facility in Nevada.
- Family name: Simplot family
- Sector: Consumer Products & Retail
- Founded: 1923
- Founder: John Richard Simplot
- Country: United States
- Company headquarters: Boise, Idaho
- Chairman: Scott R. Simplot
- Revenue: US$6 billion
- Family ownership: 100%
- Employees: 10,000
- Website: http://www.simplot.com/