Brown Cement Sack Company was a leading manufacturer of paper bags in the United States. The company was founded in 1892 by Charles H. Brown and John W. Sack. Brown and Sack began the company with two paper machines and two employees. The company quickly grew and by 1896, it had 36 paper machines and 500 employees. The company's success was due to its innovative products and its ability to meet the needs of its customers. In addition to paper bags, the company also manufactured envelopes, boxes, and other paper products. It also had a printing division that produced labels and other printed materials. The company's products were sold in all 50 states and in many foreign countries. The company's growth continued in the early 20th century. By 1916, it had 100 paper machines and 3,000 employees. In 1918, the company merged with the American Paper Bag Company. The new company was called the American-Brown Paper Bag Company. The company continued to grow in the 1920s. It added a new paper mill in 1924 and acquired several other companies. By 1929, the company had 12 paper mills and 4,500 employees. The Great Depression caused a decline in the company's sales. However, it was able to survive the Depression and continue to grow. In the 1940s, the company expanded its operations into Canada. It also began to produce plastic bags. The company continued to prosper in the postwar years. In the 1960s, it acquired several other companies and became the largest manufacturer of paper bags in the world. The company was acquired by the James River Corporation in 1985. James River sold the company to the Kohler Company in 1999. Kohler sold the company to an investment firm in 2006. The company was renamed the Brown-Forman Corporation. It is currently the largest manufacturer of paper bags in the United States.