Frank Perdue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Perdue
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"It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken."
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| Born |
Franklin Parsons Perdue
May 9, 1920 |
| Died | March 31, 2005 (aged 84) Salisbury, Maryland
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| Other names | Frank |
| Occupation | President and CEO of Perdue Farms. |
Franklin Parsons "Frank" Perdue (born May 9, 1920 – died March 31, 2005) was an important American businessman. He was born in Salisbury, Maryland. For many years, he was the head of Perdue Farms. This company is now one of the biggest chicken producers in the United States.
About Frank Perdue
Frank Perdue was the only child of Arthur and Pearl Perdue. His parents started the Perdue Farms company.
Building the Business
Perdue Farms began in 1920. Frank's father, Arthur Perdue, and his mother, Pearl, started it with a small group of chickens.
Frank joined the family business in 1939 when he was 19. He had left college at Salisbury University to help out.
Frank Perdue was a very smart businessman. He helped make Perdue a famous brand of chicken. He did this by using a lot of advertising. In 1991, he passed the company leadership to his son, Jim Perdue.
Perdue Farms also created a special chicken feed. This feed included marigold blossoms. These blossoms made the chickens' skin a golden yellow color.
Famous Advertising
In 1971, Perdue Farms started its first big advertising plan. They hired a company called Scali, McCabe, Sloves.
This company had a great idea: Frank Perdue should appear in the TV commercials himself! The famous saying was, "It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken." This was unusual because company leaders usually didn't appear in ads back then.
The first commercial was filmed in a park in Salisbury. Advertising Age magazine said it was one of the best campaigns that year. It was so successful that Frank Perdue appeared in over 200 TV commercials for Perdue Farms. Even though he was a bit shy, he became very well-known.
In many ads, Frank Perdue even encouraged people to share any complaints about Perdue products. He would often end by saying, "Say whatever you have to say; I can take it." Through these ads, Frank Perdue helped create the very first well-known brand for chicken.
Later Life and Legacy
Frank Perdue passed away on March 31, 2005, at the age of 84. He had been sick for a short time.
In 1983, Frank Perdue received an award called the Golden Plate Award. This award is from the American Academy of Achievement.
A business school at Salisbury University was named after him. It's called the Franklin P. Perdue School of Business. It was started in 1986.
In 1991, Frank Perdue also received an Edison Achievement Award. This award honored his dedication to new ideas throughout his career.
See also
In Spanish: Frank Perdue para niños
