Throwback Thursday – Polo Food Products Co.

For todays Epstein Throwback Thursday trip we go back to October 1969 for the opening of the Polo Food Products Co. poultry processing plant, freezer and office building in Schaumburg, Illinois. This Epstein designed and engineered $2M ($14M in 2017), 60,000 square foot facility, located on a 17-acre site, included a 10,000 square foot, 28-foot high, -10° holding freezer, as well as a boning room, preparation kitchen and, in a clear sign of the times, the modern luxury of air conditioned offices!

Epsteins engineers were especially focused on food safety, specifically with regards to refrigeration. Therefore this Polo Food facility, which was a federally inspected plant, had highly modern and efficient refrigeration systems in the process areas in order to eliminate bacteria. In addition, this plant also featured specialized lighting, sanitation and product flow systems making this, for the late 60s, a state-of-the-art process facility.

If youre not current on late 60s food processing companies, Polo Foods produced poultry products were found in supermarkets, restaurants and many private label products.

Lastly, this facility, which was located at the intersection of Algonquin Road and Palmer Drive, no longer stands as Polo Food was acquired in the early 70s by Allied Mills who operated out of this plant for a time before eventually being purchased by Cargil, who sold the plant and land to developers.