In 1950, Foremost began to sell its milk to the people of Guam at the request of Gov. Carlton Skinner. International Dairy Supply Co., the company’s name at the time, appointed its first Guam manager that year. In 1955 Foremost introduced ice cream to the local market. As demand grew, in 1961 it introduced buttermilk, cottage cheese, sherbet, sour cream, and non-alcoholic egg nog in season, as well as expanding its ice cream range. The Foremost name was introduced in 1961. This pattern developed over the years to meet need and taste preferences of consumers, keeping the company vibrant and successful and fueling its expansion at home and in the region.
Foremost is a source of pride to its managers, supervisors and employees, who also appreciate the company’s interaction with the community through, for instance visits to the plant, its support of a huge variety of island events, programs and fundraisers, its training programs and its sense of family. The company has been gathering annually for an Employee Appreciation Party since 1954.
Foremost has expanded its facilities and its lines in a variety of ways, and the same can be said of the company.
In 1988, Foremost Foods Inc. became the sole distributor for Coca-Cola, and Guam’s population has seen the same products as those around the world. Foremost began distributing Crystal Clear Water in 1990.The Crystal Clear line of products include a variety of ready-to-drink bottled waters and 5-gallon home/office delivery.
In 1955, the company’s staff consisted of 11 production personnel, five maintenance staff and three drivers. Today, Foremost has 112 employees and products are delivered in a fleet of 27 trucks.
Foremost Foods Inc., Foremost Crystal Clear Drinking Water and Coca-Cola Beverage Co. (Guam) Inc. were the first companies in Micronesia to become ISO 9001 accredited. The company’s products are certified by the NSF, a stringent quality rating.
| 1950 |
Foremost begins selling milk at local stores such as Talk of the Town, the Flores Store and Town House and Guam’s schools begin to receive half-pints of milk for lunch programs. |
| 1955 |
A thousand gallons of milk per day are produced and marketed for Guam’s schools. |
| 1961 |
The company introduces products that include Blue Seal milk, buttermilk, cottage cheese, ice cream, sherbet, Tast-e-Whip sour cream and non-alcoholic egg nog in season. |
| 1963 |
The company invests in a move to its present location on Marine Drive. |
| 1965 |
Foremost Dairies Inc. sponsors a men’s basketball team from Umatac in the Islandwide Basketball League. Around the same time the company sponsors the Sampaguita Ball, its own volleyball team, a Babe Ruth Baseball team and the men’s softball league among others. |
| 1973 |
Total milk production reaches 185,000 gallons per month. |
| 1975 |
The company formally changes its name to Foremost Foods Inc. |
| 1976 |
Foremost is appointed as a non-exclusive distributor of Coca-Cola beverages. |
| 1983 |
Diet Coke arrives on Guam. |
| 1988 |
Foremost is appointed sole distributor of Coca-Cola products. |
| 1988 |
Foremost expands its range to 13 flavors of ice cream. |
| 1990 |
Foremost Crystal Clear Water is launched. |
| 1996 |
Foremost, Foremost Crystal Clear Water and Coca-Cola Beverage Co. (Guam) Inc. are the first companies in Micronesia to become ISO 9001 accredited. |
| 2005 |
The company achieves a friendly parting of the ways with Dutch dairy cooperative Friesland in November 2005, bringing local ownership to Guam and Saipan for the first time in the Company’s history. |
| 2009 |
Foremost and its employees host Step to a Cure to support the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. The company also launches Diet Coke’s Here’s to Fighting for a Cure. |
| 2010 |
Foremost Foods has more than 90 products in its range. |
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