Carnation Milk Products Company

Founded on September 6, 1899, in Kent, Washington, the company started as the Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Company under the leadership of Elbridge Amos Stuart and a partner. The business focused on evaporated milk, using a then-modern preservation process to make milk safer, longer-lasting, and easier to distribute.

As the company expanded, it adopted the Carnation name, reportedly inspired by a sign Stuart saw in a Seattle tobacconist's window. Stuart put heavy emphasis on milk quality, working closely with dairy farmers and later developing Carnation Farm as a breeding and research operation. That attention to herd health and production helped shape the brand's long-running image of wholesome, reliable dairy products.

Over time, Carnation grew far beyond its original canned milk line and became a major food brand. The company eventually diversified into many related products, and the Carnation business was later acquired by Nestlé in the 1980s.