SMUCKER J M CO, DEF 14A, 1996-07-10

SMUCKER J M CO
DEF 14A, 1996-07-10
CANNED, FRUITS, VEG, PRESERVES, JAMS & JELLIES

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14A-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Filed by the registrant /X/

Filed by a party other than the registrant / /

Check the appropriate box:
/ / Preliminary proxy statement
/X/ Definitive proxy statement
/ / Definitive additional materials
/ / Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

THE J. M. SMUCKER COMPANY
(NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

THE J.M. SMUCKER COMPANY
(NAME OF PERSON(S) FILING PROXY STATEMENT)

Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
/X/ $125 per Exchange Act Rule 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(j)(2).
/ / $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
14a-6(i)(3).
/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:

(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

/ / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the form or schedule and the date of its filing.

(1) Amount previously paid:

(2) Form, schedule or registration statement no.:

(3) Filing party:

(4) Date filed:

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NOTICE OF
1996 ANNUAL MEETING
OF SHAREHOLDERS AND
PROXY STATEMENT

[SMUCKER'S LOGO]
<PAGE> 3

THE J. M. SMUCKER COMPANY

STRAWBERRY LANE
ORRVILLE, OHIO 44667

Dear Shareholder:

You are cordially invited to attend your Company's Annual Meeting of
Shareholders at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, Tuesday, August 13, 1996, in
Fisher Auditorium at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680
Madison Avenue, Wooster, Ohio. A map showing the location of Fisher Auditorium
is on the back cover. A notice of the Annual Meeting and the proxy statement
follow. IF YOU ARE A RECORD HOLDER OF CLASS A COMMON SHARES, you also will find
enclosed a proxy card and an envelope in which to return it. If you cannot
attend, or if you plan to be present but want the proxy holders (Paul H.
Smucker, Richard K. Smucker, and Steven J. Ellcessor) to vote your Class A
Common Shares, please sign, date, and return the card at your earliest
convenience. For more information concerning voting by proxy, please see the
section of the proxy statement entitled "Voting by Proxy and Confirmation of
Beneficial Ownership."

PLEASE NOTE THAT ADMISSION TO THE MEETING WILL BE BY ADMISSION CARD ONLY.
If you plan to attend, please mark the appropriate box on the enclosed proxy
card so that we can mail an admission card to you in advance of the meeting. If
you are a shareholder who owns only Class B Common Shares or whose shares are
not registered in your own name, please write to the Corporate Secretary at
Strawberry Lane, Orrville, Ohio 44667-0280, to request an admission card. Please
furnish proof of shareholder status, such as a bank or brokerage firm account
statement, if your shares are not registered in your name.

Sincerely,

/s/ Paul Smucker

Chairman of the Executive Committee
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THE J. M. SMUCKER COMPANY

STRAWBERRY LANE
ORRVILLE, OHIO 44667

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

The 1996 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of The J. M. Smucker Company will
be held in Fisher Auditorium at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development
Center, 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, Ohio, on Tuesday, August 13, 1996, at
11:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, for the purposes of receiving reports
presented to the meeting and taking the following additional actions:

(1) election of directors to the class whose term of office will
expire in 1999;

(2) ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the
Company's independent auditors for the 1997 fiscal year; and

(3) consideration of any other matter that may properly come before
the meeting.

All shareholders WITH ADMISSION CARDS are cordially invited to attend the
meeting, although only those holders of Class A Common Shares of record at the
close of business on July 3, 1996, will be entitled to vote at the meeting.

STEVEN J. ELLCESSOR
Secretary

Orrville, Ohio, July 10, 1996
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THE J. M. SMUCKER COMPANY

STRAWBERRY LANE
ORRVILLE, OHIO 44667

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PROXY STATEMENT
---------------------

(FIRST MAILED JULY 10, 1996)

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on July 3, 1996, as
the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and
to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Tuesday, August 13,
1996. The Company has outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting 14,375,149
Class A Common Shares. The Company's Amended Articles of Incorporation, subject
to certain exceptions, provide that each Class A Common Share entitles the
holder thereof to ten votes on each matter to be considered at the meeting,
except that no holder shall be entitled to exercise more than one vote on any
such matter in connection with any Class A Common Share with respect to which
there has been a change in beneficial ownership during the four years
immediately preceding the record date. Class B Common Shares do not entitle the
holders thereof to any vote except in certain circumstances set forth in the
Ohio General Corporation Law, none of which are applicable to the Annual
Meeting. For a more detailed explanation of the voting rights of Common Shares,
see "Voting Rights of Common Shares."

At the Annual Meeting, the results of shareholder voting will be tabulated
by the inspector of elections appointed for that purpose. The Company intends to
treat properly executed proxies that are marked "abstain" or that are "broker
non-votes" (i.e., are held in "street name" by banks, brokers, or other nominees
and are voted with regard to at least one but less than all matters presented to
the shareholders) as "present" for purposes of determining the existence of a
quorum. In the election of directors, the candidates receiving the greatest
number of votes will be elected. Votes withheld in respect of any candidate,
therefore, will have no impact on the election. With regard to the ratification
of the appointment of the Company's auditors, only affirmative and negative
votes will be counted, and abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect
on the outcome of the vote.

Based on the information with respect to beneficial ownership possessed by
the Company at the date of this proxy statement, the holders of between
4,287,816 and 13,982,223 Class A Common Shares will be entitled to exercise ten
votes per share at the meeting, and the holders of the remainder of the
outstanding Class A Common Shares will be entitled to exercise one vote per
share. The actual voting power of each holder of Class A Common Shares will be
based on information possessed by the Company at the time of the meeting. See
"Voting by Proxy and Confirmation of Beneficial Ownership."

Under the Ohio General Corporation Law, all of the Class A Common Shares
may be voted cumulatively in the election of directors if an appropriate notice
in writing is given by any shareholder to the President or a Vice President or
the Secretary of the Company not less than 48 hours before the time fixed for
holding the meeting. The notice must state that the shareholder desires that the
voting at such election shall be cumulative. Also, an announcement of the giving
of such notice must be made upon the convening of the meeting by the Chairman or
the Secretary or by or on behalf of the shareholder giving such notice. Under
cumulative voting, the number of votes to which each shareholder otherwise is
entitled is multiplied by the number of directors to be elected, and the
shareholder then may cast that aggregate number of votes all for one candidate
or may spread them out among the candidates as the shareholder deems
appropriate. If there is to be cumulative voting at the meeting, it is presently
intended that all proxies solicited by this proxy statement will be so voted. In
that event, unless contrary instructions are received on the enclosed proxy, all
votes represented by properly executed proxies will be divided evenly among

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the nominees named herein, except that if it appears that voting in such manner
would not be effective to elect all of those nominees, then the votes
represented by such proxies will be cast at the discretion of the Board of
Directors so as to maximize the number of such nominees elected.

This proxy statement is being furnished to the shareholders by the Company
in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of the enclosed
form of proxy. In addition to solicitation by mail, solicitations may be made
personally by officers and other regular employees of the Company, who will not
be compensated specially for such services. Also, a professional proxy
solicitation firm, Corporate Investor Communications, Inc., has been engaged to
aid in the solicitation of proxies, for which services it will be paid a fee of
$6,000, plus expenses. The cost of soliciting the proxies will be borne by the
Company.

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Unless instructed otherwise, the proxy holders intend to vote for the
election of Lena C. Bailey, Robert R. Morrison, Paul H. Smucker, and William
Wrigley, Jr., as directors, each for a term of three years. These individuals
comprise the class of directors whose terms of office expire this year.

In the event of the death or inability to act of any of the candidates for
directors, the proxy to that extent will be voted for such other person or
persons as the Board of Directors may recommend. The management has no reason to
believe that the persons listed as candidates for directors will be unable to
serve.

The members of the Board of Directors, including those who are nominees for
election, with information as to each of them based on data furnished to the
Company by these persons as of July 1, 1996, are as follows:

LENA C. BAILEY
[PHOTO] Dr. Bailey, 63, has been a director since 1986. She was Dean of
the College of Human Ecology of The Ohio State University in
Columbus, Ohio until her retirement in 1992 and is now Dean
Emerita. Dr. Bailey is a member of the Audit and the Executive
Compensation Committees. Her proposed term would expire in 1999.

KATHRYN W. DINDO
[PHOTO] Ms. Dindo, 47, has been a director since February 1996. She has
been Vice President and Controller of Caliber System, Inc. since
January 1996. She joined Caliber System, Inc. in August 1994 as
Assistant Controller. Prior to that time, she was a partner in
the accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP. Her term will expire in
1998.

RUSSELL G. MAWBY
[PHOTO] Dr. Mawby, 68, has been a director since 1983. He was Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of the W. K. Kellogg Foundation,
Battle Creek, Michigan, until his retirement in 1995 and is now
Chairman Emeritus. He also is a director of Kellogg Company and a
trustee of the W. K. Kellogg Foundation Trust. Dr. Mawby is a
member of the Executive Compensation and the Nominating
Committees. His term will expire in 1998.

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CHARLES S. MECHEM, JR.
Mr. Mechem, 65, has been a director since 1982. He has been
[PHOTO] Chairman of Cincinnati Bell, Inc. since April 1996. He retired in
December 1995 as the Commissioner of the Ladies Professional Golf
Association and is now Commissioner Emeritus of that
organization. He also is a director of AGCO Corporation,
Cincinnati Bell, Inc., Mead Corporation, Ohio National Life
Insurance Company, and Star Banc Corporation. Mr. Mechem is
Chairman of the Executive Compensation Committee and a member of
the Nominating Committee. His term will expire in 1997.

ROBERT R. MORRISON
Mr. Morrison, 61, has been a director since 1970. He is the Vice
[PHOTO] President -- Operations of the Company. His proposed term would
expire in 1999.

VERNON D. NETZLY
Mr. Netzly, 66, has been a director since 1970. He retired in January
[PHOTO] 1995 as the Company's Vice President -- Industrial Market. His term
will expire in 1997.

PAUL H. SMUCKER
Mr. Smucker, 79, has been a director since 1943. He is Chairman of the
[PHOTO] Company's Executive Committee. Mr. Smucker also is a director of First
National Bank of Orrville. Mr. Smucker is the father of Timothy P.
Smucker and Richard K. Smucker. His proposed term would expire in
1999.

RICHARD K. SMUCKER
Mr. Smucker, 48, has been a director since 1975. He is the President
[PHOTO] of the Company. Mr. Smucker also is a director of Wm. Wrigley Jr.
Company and The Sherwin-Williams Company. Mr. Smucker is the son of
Paul H. Smucker and the brother of Timothy P. Smucker. His term will
expire in 1998.

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TIMOTHY P. SMUCKER
Mr. Smucker, 52, has been a director since 1973. He is the Chairman
[PHOTO] of the Company. Mr. Smucker also is a director of Huntington
BancShares Incorporated and Kellogg Company. He is Chairman of the
Nominating Committee. Mr. Smucker is the son of Paul H. Smucker and
the brother of Richard K. Smucker. His term will expire in 1997.

WILLIAM H. STEINBRINK
Mr. Steinbrink, 54, has been a director since 1994. He has been the
[PHOTO] President of Laurel Industries, Inc. since August 1994. Prior to
that time, he was a partner in the law firm of Jones, Day, Reavis &
Pogue. Mr. Steinbrink's term will expire in 1998.

BENJAMIN B. TREGOE, JR.
Dr. Tregoe, 68, has been a director since 1982. He was Chairman of
[PHOTO] Kepner-Tregoe Inc., a Princeton, New Jersey, management and
organization development consulting company until his retirement in
March 1996 and is now Chairman Emeritus. Dr. Tregoe is Chairman of the
Audit Committee. His term will expire in 1997.

WILLIAM WRIGLEY, JR.
Mr. Wrigley, 32, has been a director since 1992. He is Vice President
[PHOTO] of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
L. A. Dreyfuss Company (a Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company affiliate), and has
been Chairman since July 1993 of Wrigley Canada Inc. Mr. Wrigley also
is a director of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company. He is a member of the Audit
Committee, and his proposed term would expire in 1999.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY

During the 1996 fiscal year there were four meetings of the Company's Board
of Directors. All directors attended at least 75% of the total number of Board
and committee meetings for which they were eligible.

The Audit Committee met three times during the 1996 fiscal year for the
purposes of reviewing with the independent auditors of the Company the scope and
thoroughness of the auditors' examination and considering recommendations of the
independent auditors. It also recommended to the Board of Directors the
appointment of independent auditors for the year and reviewed the sufficiency of
the Company's system of internal controls with the financial officers, the
independent auditors, and, to the extent the Committee deemed necessary, legal
counsel.

The Executive Compensation Committee met four times during the 1996 fiscal
year for the purposes of fixing the compensation of executives of the Company,
administering the Company's

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restricted stock bonus and stock option programs, and considering employee
benefit programs generally.

The Nominating Committee met once during the 1996 fiscal year and also
acted twice by written consent. This Committee is responsible for recommending
to the Board of Directors nominees for election as directors. The Committee will
consider suggestions forwarded by shareholders to the Secretary of the Company
concerning qualified candidates for election as directors.

Directors of the Company who are not also employees are compensated for
services as a director on the basis of $15,000 per year, plus $1,500 for each
meeting of the Board of Directors attended and $1,000 per year ($3,000 per year
for the chairman) for each committee on which the director serves. Effective
September 1, 1996, the Directors' annual retainer will be increased to $24,000,
and separate meeting fees will be eliminated.

Under the Company's Directors' Retirement Compensation Plan, a nonemployee
director who has served on the Board for at least five full years is eligible
upon his or her retirement from the Board to receive retirement benefits for a
period equal to the aggregate number of full years (not to exceed ten) during
which he or she served. The benefits payable under the plan are at an annual
rate equal to 100 percent of the regular, annual retainer being paid by the
Company to nonemployee members of the Board as of the date of the particular
director's retirement.

Effective September 1, 1996, the Directors' Retirement Compensation Plan
will be terminated and replaced by the Company's new Nonemployee Director Stock
Plan. This plan will provide for awards of units whose value is equal to the
value of one Class A Common Share. Each existing nonemployee Director will
receive a one-time award of 7,500 units on the effective date of the plan.
Nonemployee directors with five or more years of service will receive these
units fully vested, and the units awarded to the other existing nonemployee
directors will vest at the rate of 1,500 units per year (beginning on the first
anniversary of the director's original election to the Board). New nonemployee
directors after the effective date will receive 400 fully vested units upon
election and 400 such units each year thereafter up to a lifetime maximum of
6,000 units. The plan also permits nonemployee directors to elect to receive all
or 50 percent of the cash portion of their annual retainer and committee fees,
if any, in the form of units. All units, together with dividends credited
thereon, are paid out in the form of Class A Common Shares upon termination of
service as a director.

In addition to serving on the Board of Directors, Dr. Bailey provides
consulting services for the Company when requested in the area of new product
development. This arrangement is not the subject of a formal contract and may be
terminated at will by either party. In fiscal 1996, payments in the amount of
$1,500 were made to Dr. Bailey under this arrangement. Consulting services also
are provided to the Company by Mr. Netzly under an agreement scheduled to expire
on January 31, 1997, unless renewed. Mr. Netzly's services are in the area of
industrial product development and marketing. He is compensated at the rate of
$80,400 per year under the agreement ($168,000 per year for the period prior to
February 1, 1996) and received $153,400 for his services in fiscal 1996.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Executive Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the
"Committee") is composed of three nonemployee directors and is responsible for
establishing the levels of compensation and benefits for executive officers of
the Company. The Committee annually evaluates the Company's performance and the
compensation paid to its executive officers.

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COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY

The Committee believes that an effective executive compensation program
must have two parts. First, it should have a cash component that is competitive
enough to retain highly-qualified executives, while providing performance-based
incentives. The Committee believes that the Company's base salary structure and
Management Incentive Plan bonuses combine to meet these requirements.

The second part of the program, in the opinion of the Committee, should be
equity-based in order to provide long-term incentives and ensure that
management's long-term interests are aligned with those of other shareholders.
The equity-based components of the compensation program are provided by the
Restricted Stock Bonus Plan and The J. M. Smucker 1987 Stock Option Plan.

SALARIES

Base compensation for all salaried positions in the Company, including
executive officers, is determined by reference to individual performance and
position within the salary range for the particular job classification. The
salary ranges and classifications have been developed by the Company's human
resources department with assistance from outside consultants who help ensure
that the overall salary structure is competitive. The Company's goal with regard
to salaries and compensation is to provide a structure that is competitive with
other comparably sized manufacturing companies. Over 300 companies are used for
comparison purposes and many of them are included in the Standard & Poor's Food
Group Index (see the total shareholder return graph presented elsewhere in the
proxy statement). Included in the comparison group are such companies as
Campbell Soup Company, General Mills, Inc., Kellogg Company, Mars, Inc.,
McCormick & Company, Inc., Nestle USA, Inc., Ralston Purina Company, Sara Lee
Corporation, and Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company.

Generally, the Company targets its salary ranges at approximately the 50th
percentile. It then adjusts the ranges downward slightly to account for the fact
that most of the comparison companies are significantly larger than the Company.
Overall, the Committee believes that the Company's compensation structure
rewards its employees appropriately and is sufficiently competitive to retain
key employees.

Although the salary ranges for the executive officers are recommended by
the human resources department based on its own research and the advice of
outside consultants, those ranges are regularly reviewed by the Committee and
are subject to its approval, as are any changes to an officer's salary grade
level.

Management's recommendations for executive officers usually are submitted
to the Committee for its consideration at the April meeting of the Committee.
Those recommendations generally are based upon the salary increase guidelines
for all corporate salaries that have been determined by management as part of
the planning and budgeting process for the coming fiscal year. With regard to
the 1996 fiscal year, for instance, the corporate salary increase guideline was
4 percent, with a range of 1.5 to 6.5 percent. The salary increases granted to
the officer group for 1996 averaged 3.1 percent.

At this time, no single individual in the Company is designated as chief
executive officer. Paul Smucker, the chairman of the executive committee, is the
most senior member of management. At Mr. Smucker's request, his salary for the
1996 fiscal year was reduced by approximately 18 percent. This change was
consistent with the ongoing reallocation of responsibility within the Company
among Paul Smucker, Tim Smucker, the Company's Chairman, and Richard Smucker,
the Company's President. Factors considered when assessing executive officers'
performance for compensation purposes (including Paul Smucker) include (in no
particular order) the Company's sales and earnings results, market share gains,
whether the Company's business plan and

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strategic goals are being met, and individual performance evaluations. None of
these factors, however, is necessarily weighted more heavily than another.

MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN

The Company maintains a management incentive program designed to recognize
key management members based on their individual performance and their
contribution to the achievement of Company objectives. The amount of performance
bonuses under this program depends upon evaluation of the individual's position
under the Company's salary administration program, his or her performance during
the year, and the overall financial performance of the Company during the year.
A standard target award is set for each participant based on a percentage of the
individual's salary range midpoint, and the maximum award to the participant is
limited to 175 percent of that standard award.

After the end of each fiscal year, management presents the Committee with a
summary and recommendation for management incentive bonuses. The presentation
includes (i) information on the Company's performance for the fiscal year just
ended (primarily net sales and earnings as compared to the prior year and to the
Company's plan), (ii) awards to each individual in the plan in the prior three
years, (iii) current salary, salary range, and standard award information, and
(iv) a specific recommendation based on all of the foregoing. The Committee then
reviews the information and recommendations with management and makes a decision
as to which recommendations to accept and whether any should be modified.

The management incentive award for Paul Smucker each year is made based on
the earnings and sales results, the general trend of the awards made to other
participants in the plan, and direct discussion during the meeting with Mr.
Smucker.

The awards made with respect to the 1996 fiscal year were significantly
lower overall than were the 1995 awards. Although sales in 1996 were up over the
prior year's results, earnings were well behind both the Company's plan and
fiscal 1995. Given those results, management recommended a substantial reduction
in awards, and the Committee agreed. The members of the Executive Committee, at
their own recommendation, received no bonus awards under the incentive program
for 1996, and the awards to the remainder of the executive officer group were
approximately 60 percent lower on average than last year.

RESTRICTED STOCK BONUS PLAN

The Company's Restricted Stock Bonus Plan was implemented in 1981 based on
the Board of Director's determination that such a plan would help the Company to
attract and retain key senior managers and would give those managers a personal
interest in the Company as a shareholder. The restrictions on shares awarded
under this plan lapse by not later than the fourth anniversary of the award.
Awards under the plan are normally considered every other year, and were
scheduled for consideration with respect to fiscal 1996. Although awards under
this plan are designed to provide long-term incentives and are not usually
dependent upon year-to-year performance, management believed that no awards were
appropriate this year in light of the Company's recent performance, and the
Committee concurred in that recommendation.

STOCK OPTION PLAN

The J. M. Smucker 1987 Stock Option Plan was enacted for two reasons. It
was determined by the Board of Directors that the ability of the Company to
provide the benefits of such a plan was an important element in ensuring that
the Company's overall compensation program for its key managers remained
competitive. Also, the Board believed that the added long-term incentives
provided by the plan would be beneficial to both the Company and its
shareholders. Participants in the plan include both executive officers and other
key managers.

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Awards under the plan are considered annually and are made by the Committee
following a review of the recommendations of management. Target grant levels are
determined for individual participants based on salary grade level and a
determination by the Company's human resources department of the prevailing
competitive award levels for comparably situated individuals at other comparable
manufacturing companies. The companies considered are largely the same as those
used in establishing base salary ranges. Individual performance and the
performance of the Company are also considered in establishing each proposed
award. Although all of these factors are considered in making an award, no
specific weight is assigned to them, and the relative importance of each factor
may vary from participant to participant. The Committee does not specifically
consider the total number of options held by a participant in determining the
size of a new award, but information with regard to all previous awards is
presented to and reviewed by the Committee when awards are made.

The options awarded to executive officers during fiscal 1996 generally were
significantly larger (40 to 100 percent) than in past years, except for Paul,
Tim, and Richard Smucker, whose awards were approximately 30 percent smaller
than those given to them during the 1995 fiscal year. The increases for the
other participants in the plan in general were in recognition of the extra level
of commitment being asked of those individuals by the Company in connection with
various special projects planned by the Company during fiscal 1996.

The Committee has considered the potential impact on the Company's
compensation plans of the $1,000,000 cap on deductible compensation under
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, which was enacted as part of the
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. The Committee believes that grants
under the Company's 1987 Stock Option Plan and outstanding restricted stock
awards both qualify under Section 162(m) as deductible compensation. Therefore,
the Committee does not believe that Section 162(m) will have any impact on the
Company at this time. The Committee will, however, review the matter
periodically to assess the need for further action.

The Committee believes that the Company's compensation plans and practices
are sound and well-considered. The level of compensation provided to the
executive officers is appropriately related to both the competitive market and
the historic and current performance of the Company. The Committee in the future
will continue to focus on these factors and on maintaining a compensation system
that will encourage maximization of long-term shareholder value.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

Charles S. Mechem, Jr., Chairman
Russell G. Mawby
Lena C. Bailey

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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table sets forth a summary of the compensation over the past
three fiscal years for the Chairman of the Executive Committee and the other
four most highly compensated executive officers.

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG TERM COMPENSATION
---------------------------
ANNUAL COMPENSATION AWARDS
------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
OTHER RESTRICTED
ANNUAL STOCK
COMPEN- AWARDS OPTIONS
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY ($) BONUS ($) SATION ($) ($)(1) (#)(2)
- ---------------------------- ------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Paul H. Smucker, Chairman of 1996 $ 356,731 15,000
the Executive Committee 1995 412,981 $ 180,000 22,000
1994 433,173 165,000 $ 216,250 22,000
Timothy P. Smucker, Chairman 1996 374,123 15,000
1995 340,673 156,500 22,000
1994 310,000 136,200 216,250 22,000
Richard K. Smucker, 1996 364,770 15,000
President 1995 331,500 156,320 22,000
1994 306,788 136,020 216,250 22,000
Robert R. Morrison, Vice 1996 190,000 28,800 10,000
President-Operations 1995 186,500 78,800 7,000
1994 183,000 73,660 86,500 7,000
John D. Milliken, Vice 1996 160,019 20,140 10,000
President-Logistics 1995 153,904 53,020 7,000
and Marketing Services 1994 147,789 52,900 86,500 7,000

ALL OTHER
COMPEN-
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION SATION ($)
- ---------------------------- -----------
<S> <C>
Paul H. Smucker, Chairman of $ 7,272(3)
the Executive Committee 7,968
8,601
Timothy P. Smucker, Chairman 7,547(3)
8,729
8,761
Richard K. Smucker, 7,397(3)
President 8,578
8,771
Robert R. Morrison, Vice 7,460(3)
President-Operations 7,755
8,655
John D. Milliken, Vice 7,523(3)
President-Logistics 7,394
and Marketing Services 8,698
</TABLE>

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(1) The Company's Restricted Stock Bonus Plan was implemented in 1981. Shares
awarded under the plan are entitled to dividends at the same rate and on the
same terms as unrestricted shares of the same class. The aggregate number
and value of restricted shares held by the individuals listed above, valued
as of April 30, 1996 are as follows: Paul H. Smucker, 11,000 Class A and
5,000 Class B shares ($332,375); Timothy P. Smucker, 11,000 Class A and
5,000 Class B shares ($332,375); Richard K. Smucker, 11,000 Class A and
5,000 Class B shares ($332,375); Robert R. Morrison, 4,500 Class A and 2,000
Class B shares ($135,063); and John D. Milliken, 4,500 Class A and 2,000
Class B shares ($135,063).

(2) Of the options awarded in 1995 and 1996, one-half are for Class A shares and
one-half are for Class B shares. The 1994 award is all for Class A shares.
The Company does not award stock appreciation rights (SARs).

(3) These amounts represent contributions by the Company on behalf of the
individual indicated under the Company's 401(k) Savings Plan and the value
of allocations during the year under the Company's Employee Stock Ownership
Plan. The specific breakdown for each individual (401(k) amounts first,
followed by ESOP allocations) is as follows: Paul H. Smucker, $4,432 and
$2,840; Timothy P. Smucker, $4,707 and $2,840; Richard K. Smucker, $4,557
and $2,840; Robert R. Morrison, $4,620 and $2,840; and John D. Milliken,
$4,683 and $2,840.

9
<PAGE> 14

STOCK OPTIONS

Set forth below is a table summarizing options granted during fiscal 1996
to the officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table under the Company's
1987 Stock Option Plan.

OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR(1)

INDIVIDUAL GRANTS POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE AT
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK
% OF TOTAL EXERCISE PRICE APPRECIATION FOR OPTION
OPTIONS OPTIONS GRANTED OR BASE TERM
GRANTED TO EMPLOYEES PRICE EXPIRATION -----------------------------
NAME (#) IN FISCAL YEAR ($/SH) DATE 0% 5% 10%
- ----------------------- ------- --------------- -------- ---------- --- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Paul H. Smucker Class A 7,500 2.5% 18.0000 11/12/05 $0 $ 84,900 $215,200
Class B 7,500 2.5% 15.9375 11/12/05 0 75,200 190,500
Timothy P. Smucker Class A 7,500 2.5% 18.0000 11/12/05 0 84,900 215,200
Class B 7,500 2.5% 15.9375 11/12/05 0 75,200 190,500
Richard K. Smucker Class A 7,500 2.5% 18.0000 11/12/05 0 84,900 215,200
Class B 7,500 2.5% 15.9375 11/12/05 0 75,200 190,500
Robert R. Morrison Class A 5,000 1.7% 18.0000 11/12/05 0 56,600 143,400
Class B 5,000 1.7% 15.9375 11/12/05 0 50,100 127,000
John D. Milliken Class A 5,000 1.7% 18.0000 11/12/05 0 56,600 143,400
Class B 5,000 1.7% 15.9375 11/12/05 0 50,100 127,000
</TABLE>

- ---------------

(1) No option granted is transferable except by will or the laws of descent and
distribution. Options are exercisable to the extent of one-third of the
shares covered by the option after the optionee has been in the continuous
employ of the Company or one of its subsidiaries for one full year from the
date of grant, and to the extent of an additional one-third after each of
the next two years of continuous employment. Options also become immediately
exercisable upon the occurrence of certain events related to a change of
control of the Company.

None of the officers listed in the preceding table exercised any options
during the 1996 fiscal year. The number of unexercised options held by such
officers at fiscal year-end and the value of their unexercised, in-the-money
options are set forth in the following table.

AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FY-END OPTION VALUES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(D)
NUMBER OF
SECURITIES UNDERLYING
UNEXERCISED OPTIONS AT (E)
FY-END (#) VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
------------------------- IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT
EXERCISABLE/ FY-END ($)
UNEXERCISABLE ---------------------------
------------------------- EXERCISABLE/
NAME UNEXERCISABLE
- ---------------------------- ---------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Paul H. Smucker Class A 105,234 22,166 $ 187,350 $23,438
Class B 54,067 14,833 130,650 30,469
Timothy P. Smucker Class A 101,034 22,166 155,363 23,438
Class B 49,867 14,833 103,388 30,469
Richard K. Smucker Class A 101,034 22,166 155,363 23,438
Class B 49,867 14,833 103,388 30,469
Robert R. Morrison Class A 33,034 9,666 65,625 15,625
Class B 17,367 7,333 47,400 20,313
John D. Milliken Class A 28,134 9,666 43,075 15,625
Class B 12,467 7,333 30,363 20,313
</TABLE>

10
<PAGE> 15

PENSION PLAN

Under The J. M. Smucker Company Employees' Retirement Plan (the "Plan"),
retirement benefits are payable to all eligible employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries, including officers. The present executive officers of the Company
(with one exception), including those named in the Summary Compensation Table,
are also eligible upon retirement to receive a benefit from a nonqualified
supplemental retirement plan (the "Supplemental Plan"). The amounts set forth in
the pension plan table below assume participation in the Supplemental Plan and
set forth the estimated annual benefit, computed as a straight-life annuity,
payable under the Plan, as amended, at normal retirement (age 65):

PENSION PLAN TABLE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS OF SERVICE
-----------------------------------------------------------------
REMUNERATION 15 20 25 30 35
- --------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$ 125,000 $ 32,000 $ 47,500 $ 47,500 $ 47,500 $ 47,500
150,000 41,500 60,000 60,000 60,000 60,000
175,000 50,500 72,500 72,500 72,500 72,500
200,000 60,000 85,000 85,000 85,000 85,000
225,000 69,500 97,500 97,500 97,500 97,500
250,000 79,000 110,000 110,000 110,000 110,000
300,000 97,500 135,000 135,000 135,000 135,000
400,000 135,000 185,000 185,000 185,000 185,000
450,000 154,000 210,000 210,000 210,000 210,000
500,000 172,500 235,000 235,000 235,000 235,000
650,000 229,000 310,000 310,000 310,000 310,000
800,000 285,000 385,000 385,000 385,000 385,000
</TABLE>

The Plan provides a pension based upon years of service with the Company
and upon final average pay (average base compensation [i.e., salary only] for
the five highest consecutive years during the last ten years of employment).
Benefits under the Plan are computed by adding (i) the product of one percent of
final average pay up to $30,000 annually times the participant's years of
service with the Company, plus (ii) the product of one-half percent of final
average pay in excess of $30,000 annually times the participant's years of
service with the Company. Benefits under the Supplemental Plan at retirement,
based upon years of service (maximum 20 years), are 50 percent of the average
total compensation (i.e., all compensation including salary and bonus) for the
five highest consecutive years during the last ten years of employment, offset
by the benefits derived from the Plan and by 100 percent of the Social Security
primary insurance amount.

Messrs. Paul H. Smucker, Timothy P. Smucker, Richard K. Smucker, Robert R.
Morrison, and John D. Milliken were credited under the Plan with 56, 26, 23, 35
and 22 full years of benefit service at April 30, 1996.

11
<PAGE> 16

TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN GRAPHS

COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN*
APRIL 1991 THROUGH APRIL 1996

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MEASUREMENT PERIOD J.M. SMUCKER S&P FOODS
(FISCAL YEAR COVERED) COMPANY S&P 500 INDEX
<S> <C> <C> <C>
4/91 100.00 100.00 100.00
4/92 134.44 113.99 106.73
4/93 114.82 124.47 113.09
4/94 102.56 131.05 109.38
4/95 102.41 153.77 139.30
4/96 103.16 200.02 163.08
</TABLE>

COMPARISON OF FIFTEEN-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN*
APRIL 1981 THROUGH APRIL 1996

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MEASUREMENT PERIOD J.M. SMUCKER S&P FOODS
(FISCAL YEAR COVERED) COMPANY S&P 500 INDEX
<S> <C> <C> <C>
4/81 100 100 100
153.27 92.60 116.78
4/83 330.23 137.62 162.26
284.52 139.99 184.23
4/85 415.97 164.57 249.53
660.50 224.06 440.84
4/87 742.82 283.27 551.66
809.93 265.34 555.00
4/89 972.69 325.40 797.62
1204.10 359.48 892.55
4/91 1510.79 422.51 1206.86
2031.13 481.63 1288.04
4/93 1734.71 525.92 1364.86
1549.39 553.71 1320.11
4/95 1547.13 649.69 1681.13
1558.48 845.11 1968.11
</TABLE>

* Total return assumes reinvestment of dividends on a quarterly basis.

12
<PAGE> 17

OWNERSHIP OF COMMON SHARES

Paul H. Smucker, Strawberry Lane, Orrville, Ohio 44667, is the only person
known to the Company to be beneficial owner (as "beneficial" ownership is
defined for proxy statement purposes) of more than five percent of the Company's
Class A Common Shares outstanding at July 3, 1996. The number and percent of the
shares beneficially owned at that date by him, as well as those so owned by each
director of the Company, by each officer listed in the Summary Compensation
table, and by all of the Company's directors and officers as a group are shown
in the following table. Each of the individuals shown has sole voting and
investment power with respect to the shares reflected in the table, except as
otherwise indicated. Shares shown as beneficially owned include those that may
be held either individually, jointly, or pursuant to a trust arrangement.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A COMMON SHARES CLASS B COMMON SHARES
----------------------------- -----------------------------
NO. OF NO. OF
SHARES PERCENT OF SHARES PERCENT OF
BENEFICIALLY OUTSTANDING BENEFICIALLY OUTSTANDING
OWNED SHARES(3) OWNED SHARES
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Paul H. Smucker(1)(2) 2,070,103 13.6% 1,999,202 13.1%
Lena C. Bailey 310 * 318 *
Kathryn W. Dindo 550 * 0
Russell G. Mawby 4,200 * 4,200 *
Charles S. Mechem, Jr. 1,620 * 1,620 *
John D. Milliken(2) 52,868 .3% 27,678 .1%
Robert R. Morrison(1)(2) 84,042 .5% 42,780 .2%
Vernon D. Netzly(1)(2) 39,034 .2% 35,763 .2%
Richard K. Smucker(1)(2) 405,999 2.6% 315,875 2.0%
Timothy P. Smucker(1)(2) 393,539 2.5% 287,835 1.8%
William H. Steinbrink 519 * 0
Benjamin B. Tregoe, Jr. 1,270 * 5,518 *
William Wrigley, Jr. 1,090 * 0
23 directors and officers as a
group(2) 3,323,557 21.8% 2,841,468 18.6%
</TABLE>

- ---------------

*Less than .1%.

(1) Beneficial ownership of shares included in the table is disclaimed by
certain of the individuals named as follows: Paul H. Smucker, 940,092 Class
A and 940,686 Class B Common Shares; Robert R. Morrison, 400 Class A and 400
Class B Common Shares; Richard K. Smucker, 142,800 Class A and 141,804 Class
B Common Shares; and Timothy P. Smucker, 167,599 Class A and 166,603 Class B
Common Shares. The individuals named do not have voting or investment power
with respect to such disclaimed shares, except that (i) Paul H. Smucker has
sole voting power with respect to 726,020 Class A Common Shares owned by an
irrevocable trust; and (ii) Paul H. Smucker, Timothy P. Smucker, and Richard
K. Smucker each have shared voting and investment power with respect to
106,900 Class A Common Shares and shared investment power with respect to
106,900 Class B Common Shares owned by the Willard E. Smucker Foundation, of
which each of them is a member and a trustee. Although the shares of the
Willard E. Smucker Foundation are included in the beneficial ownership of
each of Paul, Tim, and Richard Smucker, those shares have been counted only
once in the total of the directors and officers as a group. Mr. Netzly has
shared voting and investment power with respect to 18,396 Class B Common
Shares.

13
<PAGE> 18

(2) Includes shares covered by outstanding options exercisable within 60 days,
as follows: Paul H. Smucker, 105,234 Class A and 54,067 Class B Common
Shares; Timothy P. Smucker, 101,034 Class A and 49,867 Class B Common
Shares; Richard K. Smucker, 101,034 Class A and 49,867 Class B Common
Shares; John D. Milliken, 28,134 Class A and 12,467 Class B Common Shares;
Robert R. Morrison, 33,034 Class A and 17,367 Class B Common Shares; Vernon
D. Netzly, 33,034 Class A and 17,367 Class B Common Shares; and all
directors and officers as a group, 766,178 Class A and 320,739 Class B
Common Shares.

(3) Because under the Company's Amended Articles of Incorporation shareholders
may be entitled to cast ten votes per share with regard to certain Class A
Common Shares and only one vote per share with regard to others, there may
not be a correlation between the percent of outstanding Class A Common
Shares owned and the voting power represented by those shares. The total
voting power of all the Class A Common Shares can be determined only at the
time of a shareholder meeting due to the need to obtain certifications as to
beneficial ownership on shares not held as of record in the names of
individuals. Based on the calculation of total voting power as of the 1995
Annual Meeting, the Class A Common Shares shown in the above table as owned
by the directors and officers as a group would represent approximately 42
percent of the Company's total voting power. No individual named in the
above table would be able to cast votes representing more than one-tenth of
one percent of the total voting power except Paul H. Smucker (30.5%),
Timothy P. Smucker (4.6%), Richard K. Smucker (4.8%), John D. Milliken
(.4%), and Robert R. Morrison (.8%).

The Company has entered into agreements with Paul H. Smucker and members of
his immediate family (including Timothy P. Smucker and Richard K. Smucker), with
Mrs. H. Ray Clark (Paul Smucker's sister) and members of her immediate family,
and with all executive officers of the Company relating to the disposition of
Common Shares held by them. These shareholders are the beneficial owners of an
aggregate of 4,018,902 Class A Common Shares (approximately 26 percent of the
class) and 3,511,265 Class B Common Shares (approximately 23 percent of the
class), of which 3,274,964 Class A and 2,794,049 Class B Common Shares are
included in the above table. Under the agreements, which have no expiration
date, the Company has a purchase option with respect to any proposed transfers
of these Common Shares, except for certain gifts and bequests to or for the
benefit of family members and for sales pursuant to any offer, merger, or
similar transaction that is approved or recommended by the Company's Board of
Directors. The agreements provide that the purchase rights thereunder may be
assigned by the Company to the Company's ESOP or any other employee benefit plan
of the Company. The agreements reflect the practice followed by the Company for
a number of years of providing for the purchase of Common Shares at prices at or
somewhat below market with the effect of establishing a method for the orderly
disposition of blocks of shares that could not otherwise be readily absorbed by
the public market. The shares so acquired by the Company have generally been
used for purposes of the Company's employee benefit plans, and shares have also
been so acquired directly by the ESOP.

Under the securities laws of the United States, the Company's directors and
executive officers are required to report their initial ownership of Common
Shares and any subsequent changes in that ownership to the Securities and
Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange. Due dates for those reports
are specified by those laws, and the Company is required to disclose in this
proxy statement any failure to file by the required dates. All of the filing
requirements were satisfied. For purposes of these disclosures, the Company has
relied solely on written representations of its reporting persons and on copies
of the reports that those persons have filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

14
<PAGE> 19

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS

Ernst & Young LLP has been appointed as the Company's independent auditors
for the fiscal year ending April 30, 1997, subject to ratification by the
shareholders. Ernst & Young LLP has served as the Company's independent auditors
since 1955.

A representative of Ernst & Young LLP is expected to be present at the
meeting with an opportunity to make a statement if so desired and to respond to
appropriate questions with respect to that firm's examination of the Company's
financial statements and records for the fiscal year ended April 30, 1996.

In the event of a negative vote on ratification, the selection will be
reconsidered.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.

ANNUAL REPORT

The Annual Report of the Company for the fiscal year ended April 30, 1996,
was mailed to each shareholder on or about July 10, 1996.

1997 SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

The deadline for shareholders to submit proposals to be considered for
inclusion in the proxy statement for next year's Annual Meeting of Shareholders
is expected to be March 12, 1997.

VOTING RIGHTS OF COMMON SHARES

Class A Common Shares generally entitle the holders thereof to vote on all
matters properly submitted to the shareholders of the Company. Class B Common
Shares have no voting rights, except as otherwise required under the Ohio
General Corporation Law in certain limited circumstances.

The Company's current Amended Articles of Incorporation generally provide
that each Class A Common Share entitles the holder thereof to ten votes on each
matter to be considered at any meeting of shareholders, except that no holder is
entitled to exercise more than one vote on any such matter in respect of any
Class A Common Share with respect to which there has been a change in beneficial
ownership during the four years immediately preceding the record date for the
meeting. Thus, after a person or group of persons having beneficial ownership of
specified Class A Common Shares sells such shares or otherwise transfers their
beneficial ownership, the new holder of those shares generally will be entitled
to one vote per share until the shares have been held without any further change
in beneficial ownership for four years. At the expiration of that four-year
period, the shareholder then will become entitled to ten votes per Class A
Common Share, provided that no further changes in beneficial ownership occur and
other applicable conditions are satisfied.

The express terms of the Class A Common Shares provide that a change in
beneficial ownership occurs whenever any change occurs in the person or group of
persons who has or shares voting power, investment power, the right to receive
sale proceeds, or the right to receive dividends or other distributions in
respect of those Class A Common Shares. In the absence of proof to the contrary,
a change in beneficial ownership will be deemed to have occurred whenever Class
A Common Shares are transferred of record into the name of any other person.
Moreover, corporations, general partnerships, limited partnerships, voting
trustees, banks, brokers, nominees, and clearing agencies will be entitled to
only one vote per share on Class A Common Shares held of record in their
respective names unless proof is provided to establish that there has been no
change in the person or persons who direct the exercise of any of the rights of
beneficial ownership. Thus, shareholders who hold Class A Common Shares in
"street" name or

15
<PAGE> 20

through any of the other indirect methods mentioned above must submit proof of
beneficial ownership to the Company's transfer agent in order to be entitled to
exercise ten votes per share. See "Voting by Proxy and Confirmation of
Beneficial Ownership."

The foregoing is merely a summary of the voting terms of the Common Shares
and should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to, the express terms of those Common Shares as set forth in the
Company's current Amended Articles of Incorporation. A copy of the pertinent
portions of those express terms is provided with this proxy statement to "street
name" and other indirect holders and is available upon request to any other
shareholder.

VOTING BY PROXY AND CONFIRMATION OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

To assure that your Class A Common Shares will be represented at the
meeting, please complete, sign, and return the enclosed proxy in the envelope
provided for that purpose whether or not you expect to attend. Class A Common
Shares represented by a valid proxy will be voted as specified. The Company has
no knowledge of any other matters to be presented to the meeting, but, in the
event other matters do properly come before the meeting, the persons named in
the proxy will vote in accordance with their judgment on such matters.

Any shareholder, without affecting any vote previously taken, may revoke a
writing appointing a proxy by a later dated proxy or by giving notice of
revocation to the Company in writing (addressed to the Company at Strawberry
Lane, Orrville, Ohio 44667-0280, Attention -- Secretary) or in open meeting.

As indicated on the first page of this proxy statement and under "Voting
Rights of Common Shares," the number of votes that each shareholder will be
entitled to cast at the meeting will depend on whether or not there has been a
change in beneficial ownership with respect to each of such holder's Class A
Common Shares during the four years preceding the record date of July 3, 1996.
The Company has developed procedures regarding the proof that will be required
for determinations of beneficial ownership. Specifically, Class A Common Shares
held of record in the names of banks, brokers, nominees, and certain other
entities are covered by special proxy cards. Those proxy cards have been
provided to the record holders for completion by the beneficial owners. The
beneficial owner cards include a form of certification as to changes in
beneficial ownership. If that certification is not completed, a change in
beneficial ownership will be deemed to have occurred with respect to all the
Class A Common Shares covered thereby, so that the holder will be entitled to
only one vote per share for all those shares.

STEVEN J. ELLCESSOR
Secretary

By Order of the
Board of Directors

16
<PAGE> 21

[MAP PASTEUP]
<PAGE> 22

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE J.M. SMUCKER COMPANY

THIS PROXY FOR THE 1996 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
P IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
R
O At the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of THE J.M. SMUCKER COMPANY
X to be held on August 13, 1996, and at any adjournment, PAUL H.
Y SMUCKER, RICHARD K. SMUCKER, and STEVEN J. ELLCESSOR, and each of
them, are hereby authorized to represent me and vote my shares on
the following:

Election of Directors to the class whose term of office
will expire in 1999. The nominees of the Board of
Directors are:

Lena C. Bailey, Robert R. Morrison, Paul H. Smucker and
William Wrigley, Jr.
SEE REVERSE
PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN, AND RETURN IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE -- SIDE
NO POSTAGE NECESSARY

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DETACH CARD
<PAGE> 23

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
[X] PLEASE MARK YOUR
VOTES AS IN THIS
EXAMPLE.

<C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
FOR WITHHELD FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
1. Election of [ ] [ ] 2. Proposal to ratify [ ] [ ] [ ] THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Directors appointment of RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE
(see reverse) auditors. PROPSAL DESCRIBED IN ITEM 2.

For, except vote withheld from the following nominee(s): By signing below, the undersigned:
________________________________________________________ (A) instructs that this proxy be voted as marked;
and
(B) certifies that of the total number of Class
A Shares represented by this proxy,
-------
have been owned since BEFORE July 3, 1992, and

were acquired ON or AFTER July 3, 1992.
--------
IF NO CERTIFICATION IS MADE, IT WILL BE DEEMED
THAT ALL CLASS A COMMON SHARES COVERED BY
THIS PROXY WERE ACQUIRED ON OR AFTER JULY 3, 1992.

UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED BELOW, THIS PROXY
WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION AS DIRECTORS OF
THE NOMINEES LISTED ON THE REVERSE AND FOR
THE PROPOSAL DESCRIBED IN ITEM 2.

SIGNATURE(S) DATE
--------------------------------------------------- ---------------------

SIGNATURE(S) DATE
--------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
NOTE: Please sign your name as it appears in print and, in case of multiple or joint ownership, all should sign.

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DETACH CARD

PLEASE NOTE THAT ADMISSION TO THE ANNUAL MEETING WILL BE BY
ADMISSION CARD ONLY. IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE
WRITE TO THE CORPORATE SECRETARY AT STRAWBERRY LANE, ORRVILLE,
OHIO 44667-0280 TO REQUEST AN ADMISSION CARD. IF YOUR SHARES ARE
NOT HELD IN YOUR NAME, PLEASE FURNISH PROOF OF SHAREHOLDER STATUS,
SUCH AS A BANK OR BROKERAGE FIRM ACCOUNT STATEMENT. ALSO, IF YOU
PLAN TO BRING A GUEST, PLEASE SO STATE IN YOUR REQUEST FOR AN
ADMISSION CARD. DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS, NO MORE THAN TWO
ADMISSION CARDS PER SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT WILL BE PROVIDED.

</TABLE>

<PAGE> 24
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO: KEY TRUST COMPANY OF OHIO, N.A., TRUSTEE (THE "TRUSTEE") UNDER THE
J.M. SMUCKER EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN (THE "PLAN").

I, the undersigned, as a Participant in the Plan, hereby instruct the
Trustee to vote (in person or by proxy), in accordance with my
I confidential instructions on the reverse and the provisions of the
N Plan, all Common Shares of The J.M. Smucker Company (the "Company")
S allocated to my account under the Plan ("Allocated Shares"), a portion
V T of those unallocated shares held in the ESOP Suspense Account
O R ("Unallocated Shares"), as well as a portion of all non-directed shares
T U ("Non-directed Shares") as determined in accordance with the terms of
I C the Plan, as of the record date for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
N T of the Company to be held on August 13, 1996. By completing, signing,
G I and returning this voting instruction card you will be voting all
O Allocated Shares as well as all Non-directed and Unallocated Shares of
N Common Stock the same way. Any participant wishing to vote the
S Non-directed and Unallocated Shares differently from the Allocated
Shares or not wishing to vote the Non-directed and Unallocated Shares
at all may do so by requesting a separate voting instruction card from
Key Trust Company of Ohio, N.A. at P.O. Box 94717, Cleveland, Ohio
44101, (216) 689-3639.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Election of Directors to the class whose term of office will expire in 1999. (change of address and comments)
The nominees of Board of Directors are: ________________________________
________________________________
Lena C. Bailey, Robert R. Morrison, Paul H. Smucker and William Wrigley, Jr. ________________________________
________________________________

(If you have written in the above
space, please mark the corresponding
box on the reverse side of this card.)

</TABLE>

Only one box should be checked for voting your Allocated Shares,
Unallocated Shares and Non-directed Shares. The trustee will not
vote any shares allocated to your account in accordance with your
instructions for which timely instructions are not received by 12:00
noon August 11, 1996.

SEE REVERSE SIDE

PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN, AND RETURN IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE --
NO POSTAGE NECESSARY
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DETACH CARD
<PAGE> 25

[X] PLEASE MARK YOUR
VOTES AS IN THIS
EXAMPLE.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
FOR WITHHELD FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
1. Election of 2. Proposal to ratify
Directors [ ] [ ] appointment of [ ] [ ] [ ] THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(see reverse) auditors. RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE
PROPOSAL DESCRIBED IN
ITEM 2.

For, except vote withheld from the following nominee(s):

________________________________________________________

Change
of [ ]
Address /
Comments

UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED
BELOW, THE SHARES COVERED BY
THIS VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD
WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION
AS DIRECTORS OF THE NOMINEES
LISTED ON THE REVERSE AND FOR
THE PROPOSAL DESCRIBED IN ITEM
2.

</TABLE>

SIGNATURE(S)____________________________________________ DATE _________
NOTE: Please sign your name as it appears in print.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DETACH CARD
<PAGE> 26

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO: KEY TRUST COMPANY OF OHIO, N.A., TRUSTEE (THE "TRUSTEE") UNDER
THE J.M. SMUCKER EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN (THE "PLAN").

I, the undersigned, as a Participant in the Plan, hereby instruct the
V I Trustee to vote (in person or by proxy), in accordance with my confidential
O S instructions on the reverse and the provisions of the Plan, all Common
T T Shares of The J.M. Smucker Company (the "Company") allocated to my account
I R under the Plan ("Allocated Shares") as well as a portion of all
N U non-directed shares as determined in accordance with the terms of the Plan
G C ("Non-directed Shares"), as of the record date for the Annual Meeting of
T Shareholders of the Company to be held on August 13, 1996. By completing,
I signing, and returning this voting instruction card you will be voting all
O Allocated Shares as well as all Non-directed and Unallocated Shares of
N Common Stock the same way. Any participant wishing to vote the Non-directed
S and Unallocated Shares differently from the Allocated Shares or not wishing
to vote the Non-directed and Unallocated Shares at all may do so by
requesting a separate voting instruction card from Key Trust Company of
Ohio, N.A. at P.O. Box 94717, Cleveland, Ohio 44101, (216) 689-3639.

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Election of Directors to the class whose term of office will expire in 1999. (change of address and comments)
The nominees of the of Board of Directors are: _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
Lena C. Bailey, Robert R. Morrison, Paul H. Smucker, and William Wrigley, Jr. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
(If you have written in the above space,
please mark the corresponding box on the
reverse side of this card.)

</TABLE>
Only one box should be checked for voting your Allocated Shares, Unallocated
Shares, and Non-directed Shares. The trustee will not vote any shares
allocated to your account in accordance with your instructions for which
timely instructions are not received by 12:00 noon August 11, 1996.
PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN, AND RETURN IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE --
NO POSTAGE NECESSARY
SEE REVERSE
SIDE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DETACH CARD
<PAGE> 27

[X] PLEASE MARK YOUR
VOTES AS IN THIS
EXAMPLE.

For, except vote withheld from the following nominee(s):

________________________________________________________

Change
of [ ]
Address /
Comments

</TABLE>

SIGNATURE(S)____________________________________________ DATE _________
NOTE: Please sign your name as it appears in print.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DETACH CARD
<PAGE> 28

THE J.M. SMUCKER COMPANY

<S> <C>

Election of Directors to the class whose term of office will (change of address and comments)
expire in 1999. The nominees of the Board of Directors are: ________________________________
________________________________
Lena C. Bailey, Robert R. Morrison, Paul H. Smucker, ________________________________
________________________________
and William Wrigley, Jr. (If you have written in the above
space, please mark the corresponding
box on the reverse side of this card.)

SEE REVERSE
PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN, AND RETURN IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE -- SIDE
NO POSTAGE NECESSARY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DETACH CARD
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 29

[X] PLEASE MARK YOUR CLASS A SHARES IN YOU NAME REINVESTMENT SHARES
VOTES AS IN THIS
EXAMPLE.

For, except vote withheld from the following nominee(s):

________________________________________________________

Change
of [ ]
Address/
Comments

Attend [ ] UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED
Meeting BELOW, THIS PROXY WILL BE
VOTED FOR THE ELECTION AS
DIRECTORS OF THE NOMINEES
LISTED ON THE REVERSE AND
FOR THE PROPOSAL DESCRIBED
IN ITEM 2.

</TABLE>

SIGNATURE(S)____________________________________________ DATE _________

SIGNATURE(S)____________________________________________ DATE _________
NOTE: Please sign your name as it appears in print and, in case of
multiple ownership, all should sign.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DETACH CARD

PLEASE NOTE THAT ADMISSION TO THE ANNUAL MEETING WILL BE BY
ADMISSION CARD ONLY. IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE
MARK THE INDICATED BOX ON YOUR PROXY CARD. ALSO, IF YOU PLAN TO
BRING A GUEST, PLEASE SO STATE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION ON YOUR
CARD AND MARK THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS/COMMENTS BOX ABOVE. DUE TO
SPACE LIMITATIONS, NO MORE THAN TWO ADMISSION CARDS PER
SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT WILL BE PROVIDED.
<PAGE> 30

UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION AS
DIRECTORS OF THE NOMINEES LISTED BELOW AND FOR THE PROPOSAL DESCRIBED IN ITEM 2.

THE J.M. SMUCKER COMPANY

THIS PROXY FOR THE 1996 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

At the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of THE J.M. SMUCKER COMPANY to be
held on August 13, 1996, and at any adjournment, PAUL H. SMUCKER, RICHARD K.
SMUCKER, and STEVEN J. ELLCESSOR, and each of them, are hereby authorized to
represent me and vote my shares on the following:

1. Election of Directors to the class whose term of office will expire in
1999. The nominees of the Board of Directors are:

Lena C. Bailey, Robert R. Morrison, Paul H. Smucker, and William Wrigley, Jr.

(INSTRUCTION: In the table on the reverse side indicate the number of
shares withheld as to each nominee in the column marked
"Against")

2. Proposal to ratify appointment of auditors.

/ / FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN

3. Any other matter that may properly come before this meeting.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote for the proposal described in Item 2.

<PAGE> 31

<TABLE>

(Continued from the reverse side)
<CAPTION>
|| CLASS A SHARES ACQUIRED BY THE
CLASS A SHARES OWNED BY THE BENEFICIAL || BENEFICIAL
OWNERS SINCE BEFORE JULY 3, 1992 || OWNERS ON OR AFTER JULY 3, 1992
----------------------------------------------- || ---------------------------------------------
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN || FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
------------- ------------- ------------- || ------------- ------------- -------------
(Post number of shares NOT number of votes) || (Post number of shares NOT number
|| of votes)
<S> <C> <C> <C> || <C> <C> <C>
1. Directors ||
Lena C. Bailey ________ shs. ________ shs. || ________ shs. ________ shs.
||
Robert R. Morrison ________ shs. ________ shs. || ________ shs. ________ shs.
||
Paul H. Smucker ________ shs. ________ shs. || ________ shs. ________ shs.
||
William Wrigely, Jr. ________ shs. ________ shs. || ________ shs. ________ shs.
||
2. Proposal to ratify ||
appointment of auditors ________ shs. ________ shs. ________ shs. || ________ shs. ________ shs. ________ shs.

POST ONLY RECORD POSITION; DO NOT TABULATE VOTES

Signed this date of 1996.

----------------------------------

----------------------------------
Signature of Shareholder

Please sign your name as it
appears in print and, in case of
multiple or joint ownership, all
should sign.

PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN, AND RETURN IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE -- NO POSTAGE NECESSARY
</TABLE>

<PAGE> 32

[SMUCKER'S LOGO]

Dear Shareholder:

The enclosed proxy card for Class A Common Shares of The J. M. Smucker
Company ("Smucker") is a little different from most proxy cards. It not only
permits you to give instructions as to how to vote your Class A Common Shares,
but also provides for certification as to how long you have been the beneficial
owner of your shares. That certification will determine how many votes you will
be entitled to cast at the Annual Meeting to be held on August 13, 1996.

The number of votes to which you will be entitled depends on whether or not
there has been any change since July 3, 1992 (the date which is four years prior
to the record date for the Annual Meeting), in the "beneficial ownership" of
your Class A Common Shares, as that phrase is defined in Smucker's Amended
Articles of Incorporation. Generally speaking, this means that if you own Class
A Common Shares that were purchased prior to July 3, 1992, you will be entitled
to ten votes for each of those shares. You will have only one vote per share,
though, for Class A Common Shares purchased on or after July 3, 1992.

Even though you have shares acquired on or after July 3, 1992, you may be
entitled to ten votes per share under certain circumstances. Those circumstances
and other aspects of the voting rights of the holders of Class A Common Shares
are governed by the Amended Articles of Incorporation, pertinent portions of
which are set forth on the reverse side of this letter. If you have questions,
please contact either our Corporate Secretary's office or our Transfer Agent,
KeyCorp Shareholder Services, Inc. Their addresses and telephone numbers are
listed in our Annual Report.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU COMPLETE THE CERTIFICATION AND INSTRUCTION ON THE
ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARD. IF YOU DO NOT FILL IN THE BLANKS, IT WILL BE ASSUMED
THAT ALL THE CLASS A COMMON SHARES REPRESENTED BY YOUR PROXY WERE ACQUIRED ON OR
AFTER JULY 3, 1992, AND YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO ONLY ONE VOTE PER SHARE FOR ALL
THOSE SHARES.

/s/ Paul Smucker
PAUL SMUCKER
Chairman of the Executive
Committee
July 10, 1996
<PAGE> 33

EXPRESS TERMS OF CLASS A SHARES

(a) Each outstanding Class A Share shall entitle the holder thereof to ten
votes on each matter properly submitted to the shareholders for their vote,
consent, waiver, release or other action, other than any matter submitted to the
shareholders for purposes solely of Article Fifth hereof; except that no holder
shall be entitled to exercise more than one vote on any such matter in respect
of any Class A Share with respect to which there has been a change in beneficial
ownership during the four years immediately preceding the date on which a
determination is made of the shareholders who are entitled to take any such
action; and except that no holder shall be entitled to exercise more than one
vote on any such matter in respect of any Class A Share if the aggregate voting
power such holder otherwise would be entitled to exercise as of the date of such
a determination (disregarding the voting power of any Class A Shares held by
such holder on August 20, 1985 or acquired by such holder in a transaction not
involving any change in beneficial ownership by reason of paragraph (c) of this
Division II) would constitute one-fifth or more of the voting power of the
Company and the holders of the Class A Shares have not authorized the ownership
of Class A Shares by such person as and to the extent contemplated by Article
Seventh hereof.

(b) A change in beneficial ownership of an outstanding Class A Share shall
be deemed to have occurred whenever a change occurs in any person or group of
persons who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement,
understanding, relationship or otherwise has or shares (1) voting power, which
includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of such Class A Share, (2)
investment power, which includes the power to direct the sale or other
disposition of such Class A Share, (3) the right to receive or retain the
proceeds of any sale or other disposition of such Class A Share or (4) the right
to receive any distributions, including cash dividends, in respect of such Class
A Share.

(A) In the absence of proof to the contrary provided in accordance with
the procedures referred to in paragraph (d) of this Division II, a change in
beneficial ownership shall be deemed to have occurred whenever a Class A
Share is transferred of record into the name of any other person.

(B) In the case of a Class A Share held of record in the name of a
corporation, general partnership, limited partnership, voting trustee, bank,
trust company, broker, nominee or clearing agency, if it has not been
established pursuant to such procedures that there has been no change in the
person or persons who direct the exercise of the rights referred to in
clauses (b)(l) through (b)(4) of this Division II with respect to such Class
A Share during the period of four years immediately preceding the date on
which a determination is made of the shareholders who are entitled to take
any action (or since August 20, 1985 for any period ending on or before
August 19, 1989), then a change in beneficial ownership shall be deemed to
have occurred during such period.

(C) In the case of a Class A Share held of record in the name of any
person as a trustee, agent, guardian or custodian under the Uniform Gifts to
Minors Act as in effect in any state, a change in beneficial ownership shall
be deemed to have occurred whenever there is a change in the beneficiary of
such trust, the principal of such agent, the ward of such guardian or the
minor for whom such custodian is acting or in such trustee, agent, guardian
or custodian.

(D) In the case of Class A Shares beneficially owned by a person or
group of persons who, after acquiring directly or indirectly the beneficial
ownership of five percent of the outstanding Class A Shares, failed to
notify the Company of such ownership, a change in beneficial ownership of
such Class A Shares shall be deemed to occur on each day while such failure
continues.

(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Division II to the contrary, no change
in beneficial ownership shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of:

(1) any event that occurred prior to August 20, 1985 or pursuant to the
terms of any contract (other than a contract for the purchase and sale of
Class A Shares contemplating prompt settlement), including contracts
providing for options, rights of first refusal and similar arrangements in
existence on such date to which any holder of Class A Shares is a party;

(2) any transfer of any interest in a Class A Share pursuant to a
bequest or inheritance, by operation of law upon the death of any
individual, or by any other transfer without valuable consideration,
including a gift that is made in good faith and not for the purpose of
circumventing this Article Fourth;

(3) any change in the beneficiary of any trust, or any distribution of a
Class A Share from trust, by reason of the birth, death, marriage or divorce
of any natural person, the adoption of any natural person prior to age 18 or
the passage of a given period of time or the attainment by any natural
person of a specific age, or the creation or termination of any guardianship
or custodial arrangement;

(4) any appointment of a successor trustee, agent, guardian or custodian
with respect to a Class A Share if neither such successor has nor its
predecessor had the power to vote or to dispose of such Class A Share
without further instructions from others;

(5) any change in the person to whom dividends or other distributions in
respect of a Class A Share are to be paid pursuant to the issuance or
modification of a revocable dividend payment order; or

(6) any issuance of a Class A Share by the Company or any transfer by
the Company of a Class A Share held in treasury unless otherwise determined
by the Board of Directors at the time of authorizing such issuance or
transfer.

(d) For purposes of this Division II, all determinations concerning changes
in beneficial ownership, or the absence of any such change, shall be made by the
Company or, at any time when a transfer agent is acting with respect to the
Class A Shares, by such transfer agent on the Company's behalf. Written
procedures designed to facilitate such determinations shall be established by
the Company and refined from time to time. Such procedures shall provide, among
other things, the manner of proof of facts that will be accepted and the
frequency with which such proof may be required to be renewed. The Company and
any transfer agent shall be entitled to rely on all information concerning
beneficial ownership of the Class A Shares coming to their attention from any
source and in any manner reasonably deemed by them to be reliable, but neither
the Company nor any transfer agent shall be charged with any other knowledge
concerning the beneficial ownership of the Class A Shares.

(e) In the event of any stock split or stock dividend with respect to the
Class A Shares, each Class A Share acquired by reason of such split or dividend
shall be deemed to have been beneficially owned by the same person continuously
from the same date as that on which beneficial ownership of the Class A Share,
with respect to which such Class A Share was distributed, was acquired.

(f) Each Class A Share, whether at any particular time the holder thereof is
entitled to exercise ten votes or one, shall be identical to all other Class A
Shares in all respects, and together the Class A Shares shall constitute a
single class of shares of the Company.

<PAGE> 34

[SMUCKER'S LOGO]

VOTING PROCEDURES -- BENEFICIAL OWNERS
CLASS A COMMON SHARES OF THE J. M. SMUCKER COMPANY

To All Banks, Brokers, and Nominees:

In accordance with the Amended Articles of Incorporation of The J. M.
Smucker Company ("Smucker"), shareholders who were holders of Class A Common
Shares of record on July 3, 1996, and who acquired Smucker Class A Common Shares
prior to July 3, 1992, will be able to cast ten votes per share on those shares
at the Annual Meeting to be held on August 15, 1996. Those holders of record who
acquired their Class A Common Shares on or after July 3, 1992, are, with certain
exceptions, entitled to cast one vote per share on the Class A Common Shares so
acquired.

To enable Smucker to tabulate the voting by beneficial owners of Class A
Common Shares held in your name, a special proxy card has been devised in
accordance with suggestions made by representatives of brokerage houses and
banks. On this card, the beneficial owner will certify the numbers of ten-vote
shares and one-vote shares, respectively, he or she is entitled to vote, and
will by the same signature give instructions as to the voting of those shares.
ALL UNCERTIFIED SHARES, WHETHER INSTRUCTED OR NOT, ARE TO BE LISTED AS ONE-VOTE
SHARES. THIS IS NOT TO BE REGARDED AS A NON-ROUTINE VOTE MERELY BECAUSE OF THE
NATURE OF THE VOTING RIGHTS OF THE COMMON SHARES. The beneficial owner proxy
card certification is as follows:

By signing below, the undersigned:

(A) instructs that this proxy be voted as marked; and

(B) certifies that of the total number of Class A Shares represented
by this proxy, ________ have been owned since BEFORE July 3,
1992, and ________ were acquired ON OR AFTER July 3, 1992.

If no certification is made, it will be deemed that ALL
Class A Common Shares represented by this proxy were
acquired on or after July 3, 1992.

The BROKER'S proxy card has also been designed to accommodate the voting of
the Class A Common Shares.

Please note, you do NOT have to TABULATE, only RECORD the numbers shown on
the certification. Please note also that you do NOT certify if you are a broker;
the beneficial owner certifies.

If you are a bank, you may wish to follow your usual procedures and furnish
the beneficial owner's proxy card to the beneficial owner for return directly to
Smucker's transfer agent. The beneficial owner will then complete the
certification before returning the card.

VOTE ONLY CLASS A COMMON SHARES; SMUCKER CLASS B COMMON SHARES HAVE NO
VOTING RIGHTS. BENEFICIAL OWNERS WHO HOLD CLASS B COMMON SHARES ONLY SHOULD NOT
RECEIVE PROXY CARDS OR "DEAR SHAREHOLDER" LETTERS; SEND THEM ONLY ANNUAL REPORTS
AND PROXY STATEMENTS.