California Cedar Products Co. history

During the 1960’s, Charles’ sons, Philip and Michael, entered the family business and became deeply committed to continuing its growth and development over the next 30+ years.

The first product CalCedar offered was called the California Cedar Family Log, introduced in 1968.

In 1969, they established P&M Cedar Products, Inc. to focus on the overall sourcing and merchandising of Incense-cedar into a variety of products to meet the growing market needs for cedar pencil slats and other cedar building materials.

1970: Duraflame is acquired.

The CalCedar-engineered product fulfilled these requirements, and by 1972 Duraflame had established itself in a choice spot in the marketplace, generating sales in excess of $2 million.

Nevertheless, Clorox and Kingsford were never able to make a success of Duraflame, and in 1982 the Berolzheimer family reacquired the company, which it was then able to successfully nurture into a well entrenched product. It appeared to be a perfect fit for Clorox, which in 1973 bought charcoal briquet maker Kingsford. (Coincidentally, Kingsford was established by automaker Henry Ford as a way to make use of his own excess saw dust and scrap created by the construction of the wooden frames of his Model T cars.

Early success for Duraflame led the company to produce more product than there was demand, especially during the 1974-75 recession.

In July 1978, Duraflame was sold to Clorox Co. for $9 million.

1981: Berolzheimer family reacquires Duraflame.

Nevertheless, Clorox and Kingsford were never able to make a success of Duraflame, and in 1982 the Berolzheimer family reacquired the company, which it was then able to successfully nurture into a well entrenched product.

By the mid 1990’s, California Cedar Products Company, P&M and to some extent Duraflame began to face a series of challenges due to changing competitive and regulatory environments.

In 1995, Charles Berolzheimer died.

CalCedar also maintained its reputation for innovation, in 2000 launching a division to produce curtain-sided trailers, acting on a suggestion by two employees in response to a common problem the company had in hauling valuable Incense-cedar.

By April 2002 all pencil slat production had been transferred from California to China initiating a new era of global manufacturing strategy for the company.

In late 2003 the company’s California Republic Stationers Division was established to pursue selected opportunities for branded pencil sales in new and developing foreign markets where CalCedar slat market share was limited.

IN 2005, the company introduced the world’s first FSC Certified Basswood (Linden) pencil slat range to complement our existing Ecoslat® Basswood and CalCedar® FSC Incense-cedar product ranges.

All products but the Japanese produced Palomino premium pencil range were manufactured at Propen until 2007.

In Fall 2011 the company introduced a new stylish notebook, sketchbook and journal range within the Palomino, Blackwing and ForestChocie brand ranges as well as taking on North America distribution for the Fabio Ricci notebook brand.

In 2012 the company begins implementing it’s brand realignment to drop both the California Republic Stationers and Spangle names and to reposition all our branded pencil and stationery items under the PALOMINO brand umbrella.