Exhibit 99.1

         THE J. M. SMUCKER COMPANY ANNOUNCES NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PR Newswire -- January 5, 2005

ORRVILLE, Ohio, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The J. M. Smucker
Company (NYSE: SJM) today announced that Mark R. Belgya, currently its
Vice President and Treasurer, has been elected to the position of Chief
Financial Officer, effective today. Mr. Belgya assumes the additional
responsibilities of Chief Financial Officer from Richard K. Smucker. Mr.
Smucker will continue in his capacity as President and Co-CEO.

Mr. Belgya has been with the Company since 1985 and has held a variety of key
management positions within the Company and will, in addition to his role as
Chief Financial Officer, continue in his capacity as Vice President and
Treasurer.

About The J. M. Smucker Company

The J. M. Smucker Company ( www.smuckers.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, peanut butter, shortening and oils, ice cream
toppings, and health and natural foods beverages in North America under such
icon brands as Smucker's(R), Jif(R) and Crisco(R). In June 2004, the Company
expanded its family of products to include such brands as Pillsbury(R) baking
mixes and ready-to-spread frostings; Hungry Jack(R) pancake mixes, syrups and
potato side dishes; and Martha White(R) baking mixes and ingredients in the US,
along with Robin Hood(R) flour and baking mixes and Bick's(R) pickles and
condiments in Canada. For over 107 years, The J. M. Smucker Company has been
headquartered in Orrville, Ohio, and has been family run for four generations.
The J. M. Smucker Company was recognized as the top company in FORTUNE
Magazine's 2003 annual survey of The 100 Best Companies to Work For and has
ranked consistently in the top 25 companies each year since FORTUNE began the
list in 1998. The J. M. Smucker Company has over 4,200 employees worldwide and
distributes products in more than 45 countries.

SOURCE  J. M. Smucker Company
    -0-                             01/05/2005
    /CONTACT: Investors, Mark R. Belgya, Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer, and Treasurer, or George Sent, Director, Corporate Finance and
Investor Relations, or Media, Maribeth Badertscher, Manager, Corporate
Communications, +1-330-682-3000, all of J. M. Smucker Company /
    /Web site:  http://www.smuckers.com