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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>/in/edgar/work/20000821/0000950152-00-006219/0000950152-00-006219.txt : 20000922
<SEC-HEADER>0000950152-00-006219.hdr.sgml : 20000922
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950152-00-006219
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20000815
ITEM INFORMATION:		
ITEM INFORMATION:		
FILED AS OF DATE:		20000821

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMUCKER J M CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000091419
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	 [2033
]		IRS NUMBER:				340538550
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0430
</COMPANY-DATA>

		FILING VALUES:
			FORM TYPE:		8-K
			SEC ACT:		
			SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05111
			FILM NUMBER:		706722
</FILING-VALUES>

			BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
				STREET 1:		STRAWBERRY LN
				CITY:			ORRVILLE
				STATE:			OH
				ZIP:			44667
				BUSINESS PHONE:		3306823000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>

				MAIL ADDRESS:	
					STREET 1:		STRAWBERRY LANE, P.O. BOX 280
					CITY:			ORRVILLE
					STATE:			OH
					ZIP:			44667
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</FILER>
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>e8-k.txt
<DESCRIPTION>THE J.M. SMUCKER COMPANY               FORM 8-K
<TEXT>

<PAGE>   1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


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


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Date of report (date of earliest event reported): August 15, 2000



                            THE J. M. SMUCKER COMPANY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)




            Ohio                          1-05111               34-0538550
- --------------------------------         -----------      ---------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of          (Commission           (IRS Employer
       Incorporation)                    File Number)      Indentification No.)

    Strawberry Lane, Orrville, Ohio                               44667
- ----------------------------------------                  ---------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                       (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code:           (330) 682-3000
                                                     --------------------------



_______________________________________________________________________________
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)





<PAGE>   2



ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

         Our news release dated August 15, 2000 concerning the results of our
annual meeting of shareholders is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report
on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

         (a)      Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.  None

         (b)      Pro Forma Financial Information.  None

         (c)      Exhibits.

                  Exhibit Number          Exhibit
                  --------------          -------

                  99.1                    Press release, dated August 15, 2000








                                        2


<PAGE>   3



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                               THE J. M. SMUCKER COMPANY


                                    /s/ Steven J. Ellcessor
                               By:  --------------------------------------------
Date: August 21, 2000               Name:   Steven J. Ellcessor
                                    Title:  Vice President, Finance and
                                            Administration, Secretary/Treasurer,
                                            and General Counsel











                                   3


<PAGE>   4



                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
                                -----------------




      EXHIBIT NUMBER         Exhibit
      --------------         -------

           99.1              Press release, dated August 15, 2000









                                        4


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>ex99-1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.1
<TEXT>

<PAGE>   1



                                                                    Exhibit 99.1
                                                                    ------------

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE            August 15, 2000
                                 The J. M. Smucker Company
                                 Strawberry Lane, Orrville, Ohio 44667
                                 (330) 682-3000
                                 Contact:  Steven J. Ellcessor, Vice President-
                                           Finance and Administration, and
                                           General Counsel


                 J.M. Smucker Announces Annual Meeting Results;
                   Shareholder Value Enhancement Plan Adopted

ORRVILLE, Ohio, August 15, 2000--Shareholders at The J.M. Smucker Company (NYSE:
SJM.A and SJM.B) annual meeting today voted in favor of the Company's previously
announced shareholder value enhancement plan. The proposal received the required
approval of more than two-thirds of the outstanding voting power of both Class A
and Class B shareholders.

The approved plan provides for a one-for-one exchange of all current Class A and
Class B shares for new common shares with terms comparable to today's Class A
voting common.

"We are very pleased the plan received such a strong show of support from our
shareholders," said Tim Smucker, Chairman of The J.M. Smucker Company. "The
combining Class A and Class B shares into one new class of voting common will be
beneficial to all shareholders going forward. The performance of our shares
since the announcement suggests that the market agrees with that assessment."

Through the close of trading on August 14, 2000, the Company's Class A shares
are up 12% and its Class B shares are up 30% over their respective market prices
on the day prior to the announcement of the plan.

The plan also included an offer to buy back up to $100 million of the Class A
and Class B shares at $18.50 per share upon approval of the share combination.
The Company announced at the meeting that approximately $79 million worth of
Class A and Class B shares had been tendered to the Company for repurchase in
response to the buy back offer.

"The fact that the tender offer is undersubscribed suggests the majority of our
shareholders believe, as we do, that the Company remains considerably
undervalued, even at $18.50 per share," Mr. Smucker said. "We will continue our
efforts to bring the strengths of our Company to the attention of the market."

The legal filings necessary to complete the combination of the Class A and Class
B shares into the new class of common are expected to be filed on August 28,
2000. Payments for shares tendered will begin to be sent out as soon as those
filings are made. The Company's Class A and Class B common shares will cease to
trade on the day the filings are made, and trading in the new class of common
will begin on the next trading day after the filings under the symbol SJM.




                                        5


<PAGE>   2


Class A and Class B stock certificates will automatically convert into the new
common shares and will not need to be exchanged by shareholders.

Tim Smucker and Richard Smucker, the Company's President, delivered a
presentation to the 360 shareholders in attendance at the meeting. They reviewed
the Company's results for the fiscal year just ended and gave an overview of the
Company's new product and advertising plans for the coming year.

In other matters submitted to the shareholders, Fred A. Duncan, Charles S.
Mechem, Jr., and Tim Smucker were all elected as directors for three-year terms.
Also, Ernst & Young LLP was approved by the shareholders to be the Company's
independent auditors for the 2001 fiscal year.

The J.M. Smucker Company (www.smucker.com) was founded in 1897 when the
Company's namesake and founder sold his first product--apple butter--from the
back of a horse-drawn wagon. Today, over a century later, the Company is the
market leader in fruit spreads, ice cream toppings, health and natural foods
beverages, and natural peanut butter in North America. The Company has over 2000
employees worldwide and distributes products in more than 60 countries.

This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including
uncertainties relating to the Company's operating performance, other factors
affecting share prices, and factors affecting capital markets generally.







                                        6




</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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