Griffin Company History

Griffin Industries can trace its beginnings to the efforts of a determined young man, John L. Griffin. His philosophy of combining prompt service with an efficient operation enabled him to offer a consistent product at a fair price. Griffin Industries, which began as a one-man, one-truck operation in 1943, is still operating under this same philosophy today. Originally called the Falmouth Fertilizer Company, its primary service was collecting waste by-products from the surrounding rural counties.

The early 1960s saw the beginning of the company's expansion efforts, with the acquisition of a rendering plant in Columbus, Indiana. In the 1960s and 1970s, John brought his sons into the growing enterprise and Griffin Industries began acquiring new facilities, building a network that now stretches across the United States.

Griffin's operations span 20 states with dozens of modern plants that recycle billions of pounds of material each year. Griffin uses this recycled material to develop products for many industries including the industrial and chemical, pet food and animal feed industries. In 1993, Griffin acquired a bakery waste recycling company that was christened Bakery Feeds. This enterprise, recycling bakery materials into animal feed ingredients, proved to be a natural fit.

The company's corporate headquarters is located in Cold Spring, KY. Griffin Industries' commitment to the environment is reflected in its main office. In 1975, Griffin Industries purchased a vacant, Civil War-era building that was once a stately Kentucky mansion. This valuable landmark was restored to its original condition, preserving its historic charm and character. In 2009, a major expansion resulted in a new 45,000 square foot office building being connected to the original structure. In keeping with our environmental tradition, the new building is LEED Certified. (LEED is a third-party certification program for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings.)

Today, Griffin is a wholly owned subsidiary of Darling International and part of the largest rendering company in North America. Griffin Industries remains the recognized leader in sanitary, efficient and timely customer service. Although Griffin Industries is now a global business, the company continues to adhere to John L. Griffin's vision of providing prompt service combined with an efficient operation, in order to offer the most consistent product at a fair price.