A chef once got a CamSquare tattooed on his body. When someone asked why, he said it was because his kitchen was always running out of them, so that way he’d always have one.
That kind of loyalty isn’t accidental. It’s been earned over 75 years of solving real problems for real operators, one kitchen at a time. What began as a family-owned company with a simple idea has grown into a presence felt everywhere from busy school cafeterias and hospital kitchens to restaurants and hotels around the world. As Cambro celebrates this milestone anniversary, we’re looking back at the moments, people and innovations that got us here and forward to what’s next.
How it All Began
In 1951, brothers Argyle and William Campbell founded Cambro with a simple yet effective product that is still sold by the thousands today. American Hospital Supply Corporation approached the brothers with a request for a product that would replace their loud, heavy and difficult-to-clean metal meal delivery trays. Using fiberglass, the Campbell brothers created the Camtray®, the first of many foodservice solutions that would wear the Cambro name.
From Family to Camily
The name “Cambro” was created by joining the words “Campbell” and “Brothers,” and that family foundation never left. Cambro is still family owned and operated today. In 1991, William’s son, Argyle, took over as President and CEO; his son, Tucker, serves as Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing. While some companies chase short-term trends, three generations of Campbell family leadership has kept the focus on what actually matters: quality and the needs of the operator.Back in 1951, the first official employee besides the Campbell brothers wasn’t a family member but he quickly became one.
Bud Chambers walked in the door one day and didn’t leave until 67 years later. He started by sweeping floors and worked his way up to the sales division, becoming known across the industry as “The CamMan” for a laugh and a passion that stuck with everyone who met him. Chambers passed away in March 2018, but the standard he set lives on in Cambro’s sales team, people who know the product line inside and out and genuinely care about the operator’s success.
That culture of staying has become a defining trait. It’s common to meet Cambro employees with 10, 20, even 30 years under their belt. They call themselves the “Camily,” a group of people who genuinely love what they build and the industry they serve.
American Manufacturing at the Core
What does a commitment to American manufacturing look like? 99 percent of Cambro products sold to customers in North America are made in the US. Cambro’s commitment to American manufacturing is rooted in quality, consistency and trust. By using high-quality FDA-approved materials, adhering to strict US regulations and maintaining rigorous testing and certification standards, Cambro ensures every product is built to perform reliably in foodservice operations around the world.
For foodservice operators, quality means little without availability. Cambro is committed to providing products to our customers as quickly as possible, which is extremely fast thanks to manufacturing facilities in both California and North Carolina. Cambro made and distributed products from Huntington Beach, Calif., for more than 60 years before expanding to North Carolina to better serve our customers in 2015. With a facility on the East Coast, foodservice operators have the major benefit of having a designated support staff and an even shorter product delivery timeframe. After expanding our North Carolina facility a few years later, Cambro recently opened a new 380,000 sq. ft. distribution center across the street. At any time, Cambro has 1,200 of its most popular products in stock, available for immediate shipment.
Innovative Products that Changed Foodservice
Cambro has created a legacy by solving problems for the foodservice industry. At the end of the day, Cambro’s main goal is to create products that make foodservice operations run better and safer.
After the success of the original rectangular Camtray, more shapes and sizes were offered. The round Camtray was eventually transformed into a new, advanced tray called the Camtread. Today, thousands of bars and restaurants across the world serve food and beverages on a Camtread tray thanks to a special rubber layer that keeps glasses and dishes from sliding while servers transport them to each customer. While some bar trays peel over time, Cambro molds the rubber directly onto the tray to ensure durability despite heavy use.
Over the years, Cambro’s CamSquares, Rounds, Food Boxes and Food Pans have become so embedded in commercial kitchens that chefs stopped using the generic term altogether. Ask for a food storage container in most kitchens and someone will hand you a “Cambro.” Made with virtually unbreakable materials that resist high volume wear and tear, Cambro storage containers are stain, acid and odor resistant. That kind of Kleenex-level recognition is rare in any industry, and in foodservice it’s nearly unheard of.
Made with temperature maintenance and durability in mind, Cambro’s insulated transport units quickly became a staple for catering businesses, hospitality and schools. Foodservice operators know that when they are using a Cambro insulated transport unit, their food will be kept at safe temperatures until they’re ready for service. Rotomolded Ultra Pan Carriers, Camtainers and Pro Cart Ultra units in particular are well-known across industries for their exceptional performance.
For more than 25 years, Camshelving has been solving one of the most persistent frustrations in commercial kitchens: shelving that rusts, corrodes and ends up in a landfill after just a few years of use. Camshelving is guaranteed against rust and corrosion forever. Smooth composite plastic and easy-to-remove shelf plates mean cleaning takes seconds instead of becoming a project. And because Camshelving was designed with open corners and shared posts, operators gained layout flexibility that metal shelving never allowed, making the most out of every square foot.
That foundation opened the door to a whole ecosystem of accessories that tackled even more kitchen pain points.
- Ultimate Sheet Pan Rack: Metal sheet pan racks rust, corrode and break under heavy use. The USPR is rust and corrosion free from top to bottom. Cambro makes its own casters that are designed with a centered stem. The result is greater stability and a corrosion resistant solution for coolers, freezers and any environment where moisture is present.
- Elevation Series Wall Shelving: Square footage in a foodservice kitchen is precious. This vertical storage system will never rust, corrode, peel or dent for the lifetime of a foodservice business, a problem metal shelving never solved. With a variety of customizations available, Elevation Series Wall Shelving offers drying racks, pegboards and Type 304 Stainless Steel accessories that allow operators to utilize their walls better than has ever been possible.
A Reputation Built Over Decades
You don’t reach 75 years in business without earning it. Operators grew tired of replacing equipment that didn’t hold up, and our products proved they were built differently. That kind of trust comes from decades of showing up with products that actually solve the problem.
When an operator complains, we listen. That relationship has driven the development of products that wouldn’t exist otherwise. When the Salvation Army needed an easier way to access the contents of their Cam GoBoxes, we worked directly with them to develop the Cam GoBox Flip Lid. That’s how most of the best ideas happen.
In a commercial kitchen, food safety is paramount. Every Cambro product is designed with food safety in mind. From using FDA-approved materials to create NSF-listed products to designing solutions that are durable, easy to clean and built to maintain safe food temperatures, we continually invest in products and processes that help kitchens operate safely and confidently every day. Our StoreSafe program provides foodservice operators with food safety tools designed to help reduce cross-contamination, improve organization and support safer kitchen practices.
Cambro Worldwide
What began as a single factory in California has grown into a global presence, with manufacturing facilities and distribution centers spanning the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Even as Cambro expanded around the world, the founding vision of the Campbell brothers has remained the same: create durable, high-quality products that save labor, improve food safety and help operators deliver exceptional guest experiences. No matter where a Cambro product is made, every facility follows the same rigorous standards, materials and manufacturing processes to ensure the consistency and reliability foodservice operators have trusted for 75 years.
Looking Ahead to the Next Chapter
The next chapter looks a lot like the first one: find the problem, build the solution, make it last. In 2023, Cambro introduced FreshPro CamSquares®, a reimagined take on the storage container that defined a category. Recessed handles save space, sealing lids promote freshness, and the design reflects how modern kitchens actually work. That was followed by FreshPro CamRounds™, a first-of-its-kind container that combines the benefits of both square and round storage in one product.
In 2024, Cambro acquired Nationwide Fab., a custom stainless steel and millwork fabricator based in Colorado, bringing a new capability into the fold and opening the door to solutions that didn’t exist before. Cambro also expanded its global footprint with the acquisitions of Polibox, a specialist in high-quality insulated containers and temperature-controlled transport solutions based in Europe, and Thermo Future Box, which brings additional expertise in insulated transport designed to help foodservice professionals streamline operations.
But the throughline across all of it is the operator. The chef dealing with a walk-in that never stays organized. The catering team that needs food at temperature two hours from now. The school nutrition director trying to feed hundreds of kids safely and efficiently every single day. Cambro has spent 75 years paying attention to those people, and that’s not changing. The problems will evolve, the kitchens will change, and Cambro will keep showing up with something that works.
