1947
Nelson-Jameson is founded
Nelson-Jameson began as a dairy equipment and supply company operating out of an abandoned cheese factory in Toluca, IL. At its beginning, the entire team consisted of just five people: founders Earl Nelson, Ted Nelson, Herb Jameson, Bob Dougherty, plus one secretary/bookkeeper.
1949
Moved to Marshfield, WI
Given the long distances between dairy plants in Illinois, NJ's founders studied cow density maps and decided to relocate the business to Marshfield, WI—the heart of dairy production. Shortly after the move to Marshfield, Dougherty and Jameson left the firm to pursue separate careers, leaving the company in the control of the Nelsons.
Pictured: Ted Nelson (left), and his son Earl Nelson (right)
1949
The Marshfield location serves the USA
The move to Marshfield proved to be fortuitous for the young firm, as Nelson-Jameson's customer list grew to include virtually every type of food processor in all 50 states and Canada.
1966
Richland Center, WI distribution center opens
Nelson-Jameson built the first of what would become several branch locations in Richland Center, WI, to better serve its strong dairy industry base. This location would remain open until 1992.
1975
John Nelson joins the company
Earl's son, John Nelson, joins the family business. John worked on numerous projects during his years with the company, including sales and route delivery, product management of the chemical line, and the annual physical inventory counting and reconciliation. He was also instrumental in starting the laboratory products line.
Pictured: John Nelson (left) and his father Earl Nelson (right)
1977
The new Marshfield distribution center & corporate office open
A brand new building at 2400 E 5th Street became the home base for Nelson-Jameson, Inc. The building, designed by John Nelson, featured office and warehouse space designed for growth. The design also earned the 1977 National Design Award of Merit.
1978
Carol Nelson joins the company
Carol, Earl Nelson's wife, was instrumental in developing Nelson-Jameson's Human Resources Department and in hiring several key individuals within the organization.
1979
Green Bay, WI distribution center opens
Green Bay becomes the second Wisconsin branch location of the company and serves Eastern WI customers until its closure in 1991.
1982
Marshfield distribution center warehouse expansion
When the building on East 5th Street was built 5 years earlier, it was said that employees believed it would take 30 years to fill the warehouse. However, Nelson-Jameson would have several warehouse additions over the years to accommodate the growing product lines. As early as 1987, the company added much-needed warehouse space and six new loading docks.
1991
John Nelson leads the company
Upon the retirement of Earl & Carol Nelson from the company, John Nelson takes over day-to-day operations as the third generation of Nelson family leadership.
1992
Jerry Lippert joins the company
Jerry Lippert held many roles at Nelson-Jameson over the years, including sales management, Director of Operations, and Vice President/General Manager. In 2002, he assumed the role of President and held that position until 2020.
1993
The Turlock, CA distribution center opens
To better serve the 13 western states, Nelson-Jameson establishes a branch in Turlock, California.
2001
The Twin Falls, ID distribution center opens
Twin Falls, Idaho, becomes a new branch of Nelson-Jameson to better serve customers in the Northwest United States. Later, in 2024, the distribution center will be relocated to Jerome, ID, to better serve its customers in a new state-of-the-art facility.
2002
Marshfield's distribution center expands its warehouse
The third addition to the 5th Street distribution center in Marshfield, WI, further expands its warehouse capabilities as the company continues to grow.
2005
Adam Nelson joins the company
John Nelson's son, Adam Nelson, is instrumental in establishing a strong IT Department and the company philosophy of using technology to make processes more efficient.
2009
Nelson-Jameson builds a new distribution center in Turlock, CA
A new 32,700 square foot facility, including warehouse and office space, was built to accommodate the growing branch in Turlock, California, established in 1993.
2009
Amanda Nelson Sasse joins Nelson-Jameson
Over the years, Amanda Nelson Sasse, John Nelson's oldest daughter, held several roles, including Account Manager, Director of Strategic Relationships & Web Development, and VP of Philanthropy and Social Impact.
2009
NEXT Logistics is established
The logistics of Nelson-Jameson's fleet of trucks and deliveries becomes a new entity, NEXT Logistics. A dedicated system of routes and delivery schedules is put in place to better serve customers across the United States.
2010
York, PA distribution center opens
Another branch location with offices and warehouse space opens in York, Pennsylvania, allowing Nelson-Jameson to better serve customers on the East Coast. The York distribution center would later close in 2024, in preparation for relocating to a new facility strategically located in Fairview, Pennsylvania.
2012
Dumas, TX distribution center opens
A new branch location in Dumas, Texas, is established, allowing Nelson-Jameson to better serve customers located in the South Central United States. In 2017, the Dumas location would be moved to a brand new building in Amarillo, TX.
2013
Marshfield, WI distribution center continues to expand
An additional 20,000 square feet of warehouse space is added to the Marshfield, Wisconsin distribution center location.
2014
Chicago sales office opens
A team of dedicated account managers supporting customers across various regions of the United States was based in Chicago, IL. The Chicago sales office remained open until 2023.
2015
Marshfield distribution center expands to 2.2M cu ft
An additional 10,000 square feet of warehouse space with six additional loading docks is added to the Marshfield location. This brings the total warehouse space in Marshfield to 2.2 million cubic feet.
2017
New Amarillo, TX distribution center opens
Nelson-Jameson's Texas branch moves from Dumas to Amarillo, TX, to better serve customers, as well as to position itself for increased growth in the South Central United States. Nelson-Jameson built the Amarillo Distribution Center to be 25,000 square feet on a four-acre lot with three finished docks, 1,800 square feet of office space, and the capacity to hold 224 pallets of refrigerated products.
2020
New Marshfield, WI corporate office opens
Nelson-Jameson's corporate office moves into a newly remodeled building on Highway 13 at the south end of Marshfield, Wisconsin.
2020
The fourth generation of Nelsons
Leadership of Nelson-Jameson transfers to the fourth generation of the Nelson family as Adam Nelson is named Chairman of the Board, and Amanda Nelson Sasse steps into an executive management position as the Director of E-Commerce. Ann-Marie Nelson Brine serves as the secretary of both Nelson-Jameson's Advisory Board and Board of Directors.
2020
Mike Rindy is named President of Nelson-Jameson
Having worked in the food and dairy industry for more than 34 years, Mike Rindy brings with him decades of experience leading diverse teams to achieve outstanding sales and operational results while fostering collaboration and servant leadership.
2022
Nelson-Jameson celebrates its 75th anniversary
Nelson-Jameson celebrated its 75th anniversary. The milestone was marked by company-wide employee events, reflections on its foundational history, and a strategic focus on future growth.
2022
The Nelson-Jameson Foundation is established
To elevate its commitment to the Golden Rule and to community stewardship, Nelson-Jameson created the Nelson-Jameson Foundation (NJF)—a dedicated effort to maximize our charitable impact for organizations and causes that impact our employees and local communities alike.
2023
Nelson-Jameson is featured in the online docuseries "We Supply America"
Nelson-Jameson is recognized as a top distributor and fourth-generation family-owned business—focusing on company culture and employee experience.
2024
New Jerome, ID distribution center opens
The Twin Falls distribution center relocated to a brand-new, state-of-the-art distribution center in Jerome, ID—built to suit the needs of the company's Northwest customers and expand Nelson-Jameson truck route capabilities.
2024
Nelson-Jameson releases its first-ever ESG Report
In line with our commitment to helping shape a sustainable world and safeguard the integrity of America's food supply, Nelson-Jameson published its first-ever ESG Report. The annual report outlines our commitment to corporate responsibility, showcasing the progress of our initiatives, accomplishments, and strides in areas crucial to our organizational values.
2025
Fairview, PA distribution center opens
Our Fairview, Pennsylvania, distribution center opens to better serve East Coast customers. The 45,000-square-foot facility features 12 truck bays, an additional 16,000-square-foot mezzanine for added capacity, and sits on an 8.4-acre lot with an adjacent 20 acres reserved for future expansion.
2025
Wauwatosa, WI remote office is established
To accommodate remote staff in southern WI, a shared office space is acquired to provide a collaborative environment where team members can work together while staying close to home.
