Tom's Foods: The end of a Columbus institution

News

For nearly a century, a company famous for snacks has been a staple of community. Now a Campbell's Soup Co. factory, the former Tom’s Foods, a snack food behemoth and one of the biggest employers in Columbus, will close up shop by mid-2022.

Johnny Johnson, former Tom's food employee and current Campbell Soup employee, outside Campbell Soup plant (formerly Tom's Foods and Lance Foods) in Columbus on Friday, February 26, 2021. Campbell Soup Company announced plans to close its Columbus manufacturing facility by spring 2022. The plant produces candy, crackers, cookies, nuts and bars. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Portrait of Johnny Johnson, former Tom's food employee and current Campbell Soup employee, outside the Campbell Soup plant (formerly Tom's Foods and Lance Foods) in Columbus on Friday, February 26, 2021. Campbell Soup Company announced plans to close its Columbus manufacturing facility by spring 2022. The plant produces candy, crackers, cookies, nuts and bars. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Johnny Johnson, former Tom's food employee and current Campbell Soup employee, talks on the phone outside Campbell Soup plant (formally Tom's Foods and Lance Foods) in Columbus on Friday, February 26, 2021. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Aerial photography shows Campbell Soup plant (formerly Tom's Foods and Lance Foods) in Columbus on Friday, February 26, 2021. Campbell Soup Company announced plans to close its Columbus manufacturing facility by spring 2022. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Exterior of Campbell Soup plant (formally Tom's Foods and Lance Foods) in Columbus on Friday, February 26, 2021. Campbell Soup Company announced plans to close its Columbus manufacturing facility by spring 2022. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Exterior of Campbell Soup plant (formerly Tom's Foods and Lance Foods) in Columbus on Friday, February 26, 2021. Campbell Soup Company announced plans to close its Columbus manufacturing facility by spring 2022. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Jack Warden (left) and Ben Smith share a smile as they recall memories of Tom's Foods at former Tom's general manager Jack Warden's house in Midland on Friday, February 26, 2021. Campbell Soup Company announced plans to close its Columbus manufacturing facility by spring 2022. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Former Tom's Foods employees (from left) Don Tillery, Ben Smith, Jack Warden, Jernigan Gresham share old photographs from Tom's Foods at former Tom's general manager Jack Warden's house in Midland on Friday, February 26, 2021. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Former Tom's Foods employees (from left) Jack Warden, Don Tillery, and Jernigan Gresham share old photographs from Tom's Foods at former Tom's general manager Jack Warden's house in Midland on Friday, February 26, 2021. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Rebecca Bush, curator of history at The Columbus Museum, shows the museum's collection of Tom's Foods memorabilia in Columbus on Friday, February 26, 2021. Campbell Soup Company announced plans to close its Columbus manufacturing facility by spring 2022. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Former Tom's Foods general manager Jack Warden shows some mementos from Tom's Foods at his home in Midland on Friday, February 26, 2021. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Former Tom's Foods employees (from left) Jernigan Gresham, Johnny Johnson (standing), Jack Warden, Don Tillery (foreground), and Ben Smith, recall memories of Tom's Foods at former Tom's general manager Jack Warden's house in Midland on Friday, February 26, 2021. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Former Tom's Foods general manager Jack Warden shows an old nut sheller machine from Tom's Foods at his home in Midland on Friday, February 26, 2021. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Former Tom's Foods employees (from left) Johnny Johnson, Don Tillery, Jack Warden, Ben Smith, and Jernigan Gresham share old photographs from Tom's Foods at former Tom's general manager Jack Warden's house in Midland on Friday, February 26, 2021. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

February 26, 2021 Columbus - Rebecca Bush, curator of history at The Columbus Museum, shows part of the museum's Tom's Foods archive on Friday, February 26, 2021. Campbell Soup Company announced plans to close its Columbus manufacturing facility by spring 2022. The plant produces candy, crackers, cookies, nuts and bars. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Tom's employed Columbus residents of all stripes. However, at mid-century the work was strictly segregated by both race and gender. Here, two Black male laborers can be seen at right, with white male shipping clerks at left.
Courtesy of Collection of the Columbus Museum, Georgia. Published with permission.

Thousands of locals found work in the Tom's home office over its 94 years of operation. Here, a group oversees the cutting of candy on marble slabs.
Courtesy of Collection of the Columbus Museum, Georgia. Published with permission.

Tom's aimed to be more than just an employer, with a company sports teams, a lake retreat and an in-house magazine. Here, the Tom's women's basketball team poses for a photo.
Courtesy of Collection of the Columbus Museum, Georgia. Published with permission.

Tom's began with a single product, Tom's Toasted Peanuts, but quickly added others and at times made more than 300 snacks.
Courtesy of Collection of the Columbus Museum, Georgia. Published with permission.

Tom Huston found a natural partnership with George Washington Carver that grew into a close friendship. Felix Benjamin Gaines created this etching of the famous inventor.
Courtesy of Collection of the Columbus Museum, Georgia. Published with permission.

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Johnny Johnson, former Tom's food employee and current Campbell Soup employee, outside Campbell Soup plant (formerly Tom's Foods and Lance Foods) in Columbus on Friday, February 26, 2021. Campbell Soup Company announced plans to close its Columbus manufacturing facility by spring 2022. The plant produces candy, crackers, cookies, nuts and bars. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

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