Our History
Smith-Lee was founded in 1898 by Charles A. Lee. In 1899, Monroe C.
Smith and Hurlburt W. Smith became partners in the enterprise. At that
time, the factory was located in Canastota, New York. The Company’s
growth was so rapid that in 1900, the factory was relocated to the
neighboring town of Oneida, New York, where the Company still is today.
In 1904, Mr. Lee sold his interest in the firm to William L. Smith. The
Company continued its growth via a merger with the Kleen Seal
Corporation of Liverpool, NY in 1932 and retained the Smith-Lee name, as
it has until the present day.
Smith-Lee began by making paper milk bottle caps and closures. After the
end of World War II, with the introduction of the paper milk carton, the
milkman and the milk bottle began to be phased out, and the Company
needed to diversify its product line. The first new product was the
paper plate which was followed in 1971 with the acquisition of the
Milwaukee Lace Paper Co., a leading manufacturer of paper lace doilies.
From that time until the present, the Company’s thrust would be in
disposable paper products for the food service industry.
Presently, Smith-Lee enjoys a well-earned reputation as a manufacturer
of quality merchandise with a focus on service to our customers. All of
our products are manufactured in the United States and are Kosher
certified. We invite you to explore our website to
learn more about our products.
For additional information on our Company or our products, please call
us at (800) 448-3363. We are ready to work with you to provide you with
the quality products and service that will meet your needs. We welcome
the opportunity to be of service to you.
