1847-1914

Evaporated milk pioneer, born in Zug. He studied mechanical engineering, then worked at the milk factory in Cham, Canton Zug. At this time condensed milk was normally made by adding sugar, a technique developed in America, but this milk was not suitable for all uses. The Cham factory was already producing a sugarless alternative, but this too had disadvantages. Meyenberg realised that if the cans were kept in motion during sterilization the result was vastly improved. However, the Cham factory refused to support his invention, and in 1884 he emigrated to the US in the hope of putting his plan into action. After failing to arouse any interest in St Louis, he moved to Highland, Illinois, where he found enough backing to establish the first condensed milk factory, which he named the Helvetia Milk Company. Despite initial problems, he eventually set up factories all over the US and won a gold medal at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.