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                                                                    Exhibit 99.2


                             J. M. SMUCKER ANNOUNCES
                     ADOPTION OF SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS PLAN



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

ORRVILLE, OHIO, April 23, 1999. The J. M. Smucker Company (NYSE: SJM.A and
SJM.B) announced today that its Board of Directors has approved the adoption of
a share purchase rights plan. Under the plan, the Company will distribute rights
as a dividend at the rate of one Class A right for each Class A common share and
one Class B right for each Class B common share held by shareholders of record
on May 14, 1999.

According to Timothy P. Smucker, Chairman of The J. M. Smucker Company, "This
action was taken after careful study and was not taken in response to any
pending takeover of the Company. The rights plan is intended to protect the
Company and its shareholders from potentially coercive takeover practices or
takeover bids that are inconsistent with the interests of the Company and its
shareholders. The adoption of a share purchase rights plan has become common
practice in major American companies and a well accepted approach to ensuring
that all shareholders are treated equally. In enacting the rights plan, the
Company wants to make clear that investors planning to make a significant
investment in the Company are expected to be forthright about their intentions.
In that context, we are aware of one current investor that, while disclaiming
any takeover intent, has accumulated a small position in our Class A shares, and
we are in conversations with that investor to better understand its intentions."

Commenting further, Mr. Smucker added, "Anyone who is familiar with our Company
understands that the block of shares controlled by insiders, combined with the
effect of our time-phase voting structure giving long-term shareholders ten
votes per share, protects the ability of the Company to maintain its
independence. We believe strongly that the long term interests of the Company,
its shareholders, and its employees will be best served by the continued
stewardship of the Smucker's brand by those who are closest to it and care most
about it. Because of that, independence will continue to be one of our Basic
Beliefs. Indeed, we feel very positively about the current direction of our
Company. We believe that our strategy for future growth and for development of
our brands is sound and is beginning to make a real difference in our
performance. Each of our businesses is making good progress, and our confidence
is reflected in the previously announced decision of our Board to increase our
dividend by 7 percent. That confidence is also reflected in our decision to make
a private placement of $50 million in senior unsecured debt in the next month or
so in order to help fund investments in our current business and acquisitions.
We also plan to use at least a small portion of those funds to increase our
stock repurchase activity."

Under the plan, the rights will initially trade together with the Company's
common stock and will not be exercisable. In the absence of further action by
the directors, the rights generally will become exercisable and allow the holder
to acquire the Company's Class A common shares or Class B common shares at a
discounted price if a person or group acquires 10% or more of the outstanding
Class A common shares or 15% or more of the Company's outstanding common shares.
Rights held by persons who exceed the applicable thresholds will be void. Shares
held by members of the Smucker family are not subject to the 

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thresholds. Under certain circumstances, the rights will entitle the holder to
buy shares in an acquiring entity at a discounted price.

The plan also includes an exchange option. In general, after the rights become
exercisable, the directors may, at their option, effect an exchange of part or
all of the rights--other than rights that have become void--for shares of the
Company's common stock. Under this option, the Company would issue one Class A
common share for each Class A right and one Class B common share for each Class
B right, in each case subject to adjustment in certain circumstances.

The Company's Directors may, at their option, redeem all rights for $.01 per
right, generally at any time prior to the rights becoming exercisable. The
rights will expire May 14, 2009, unless earlier redeemed, exchanged, or amended
by the directors.

The issuance of the rights is not a taxable event, will not affect the Company's
reported financial condition or results of operations (including earnings per
share), and will not change the manner in which the Company's common shares are
currently traded.

The J. M. Smucker Company (http://www.smucker.com) is the nation's leading
producer of branded preserves, jams, jellies, and other fruit spread products,
health and natural foods, beverages, ice cream toppings, and natural peanut
butter.