The United States is home to many iconic food brands that have become household names globally. These brands have not only shaped American cuisine but have also played significant roles in the country’s cultural and economic landscape. Here, we explore the top 20 most famous American food brands, their history, and the reasons behind their fame.
Heinz Ketchup
Back in 1852, 8-year-old Henry John Heinz started selling his mom’s leftover vegetables out of her garden to neighbors in Pittsburgh. In 1876, he began his ketchup empire. Heinz Ketchup is renowned for its “57 varieties” slogan and has become synonymous with ketchup in many parts of the world.
Campbell’s
Campbell’s, known for its soups, was founded in 1869. It became famous for its condensed soup in 1897, revolutionizing the way people consume soup. In 1962, Andy Warhol created his “Campbell’s Soup Cans” series. Today, Campbell’s soup is a staple on sick days and snow days and in casserole recipes across the country.
Hershey
The Hershey Company, established by Milton S. Hershey in 1894 as his fourth confectionery company, is one of the oldest chocolate companies in the U.S. Hershey’s practically owns the candy aisles in the U.S. and is prominent across the globe.
Gerber
Before 1927, moms had to make their own baby food. Thanks to Dorothy Gerber, who had the idea to commercially can baby food, parents now have the convenience of nutritious baby food, formula, vitamins, and baby cereal in the grocery store. The Gerber brand truly took off in 1931 with the introduction of the “Gerber Baby,” who still reigns as the company logo today.
Coca-Cola
John Pemberton of Georgia created a drink he called “Pemberton’s French Wine Coca” in 1885. Among other things, it contained both extracts of cocaine and the kola nut. The image we have of Santa Claus today was invented by their marketing in 1930. Today, Coca-Cola can be purchased anywhere in the world—except Cuba and North Korea, according to Business Insider.
Jell-O
Jell-O is famous for its gelatin desserts. In 1897, cough syrup manufacturer Pearle Bixby Wait developed a fruit-flavored dessert using new methods used to make instant gelatin and mistakenly sold the rights in 1899 for $450. Now, Jell-O is a multi-million dollar brand seen in hospitals, school cafeterias, and home refrigerators alike.
Spam
A staple on Hawaiian food menus, this canned ham was brought into the world in 1937 by Hormel Foods. It was originally created as an affordable and convenient protein during wartime. Now, Spam is something you either love or hate; there is no in-between.
M&M’s
Introduced in 1941 by Mars, Incorporated, M&M’s are colorful, candy-coated chocolates that became popular as a non-melting chocolate option for soldiers during World War II. Though the American version is banned in some countries, the colorful chocolates can be found around the world, just with vegetable-based coloring.
Tabasco
Tabasco sauce, created by Edmund McIlhenny in 1868, is one of the oldest hot sauce brands in the U.S. It’s famous for its spicy flavor and versatility. Today, Eat This, Not That! ranks it as the sixth most popular hot sauce in the U.S.
Wonder Bread
Introduced in 1921, Wonder Bread is known for its soft, white sliced bread. It became a symbol of American innovation with the introduction of sliced bread in 1930, though it was not the first commercially sliced bread. According to CNBC, “While Wonder Bread has somewhat fallen out of favor, people do still eat white bread, and Wonder Bread remains a profitable part of the Flowers Foods portfolio.”
Oscar Mayer
“I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener.” The Oscar Mayer brand may be the shining example of the American Dream. Oscar Mayer immigrated to the U.S. from Germany and went from being a local butcher in 1883 to having the name of one of the world’s most-known brands. Oscar Mayer and his Wienermobile remained family-owned for almost 100 years.
Smucker’s
Since 1962, Smucker’s has marketed its products with the slogan “With a name like Smucker’s, it has to be good!” created by Lois Wyse, an advertising executive, author, and columnist. Founded in 1897, Smucker’s is famous for its fruit preserves, jellies, and jams. It has become a staple in American breakfasts. The company has appeared on Fortune magazine’s annual listing of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the United States since 1998, ranking number one in 2004.
Hostess Twinkies
Twinkies, introduced by Hostess Brands in 1930, are cream-filled sponge cakes known for their long shelf life and cultural significance in America. Before World War II, Twinkies were filled with banana cream, but sadly, banana imports died down during the war. Twinkies survived that and the 2012 Hostess bankruptcy.
Cheerios
While Cheerios are a General Mills cereal, they’re definitely a brand all their own. The cereal was introduced in the 1940s and is still one of the most popular breakfast cereals. It has uniquely marketed itself as heart-healthy and a great finger food option for babies learning their fine motor skills. Honey Nut Cheerios may be the most known, but they have branched out to a multitude of flavor options.
Keebler
In 1853, Keebler was an independent baker. Now there’s a huge line of cookies and crackers synonymous with magical baking elves. The cookie and cracker lines were separated when Kellogg’s sold the cookie line and the rights to the Keebler name to Ferrero SpA in 2019. The cracker lines are now marketed under the Kellogg’s or Sunshine names.
Betty Crocker
Betty Crocker, a brand of General Mills, was created in 1921 as a fictional character to offer cooking advice. Betty Crocker’s first commercial product was a 1942 dried soup mix, but the company has since become best known for its cake mixes and canned frosting.
Pillsbury
Founded in 1869, Pillsbury is famous for its refrigerated dough products, including biscuits and cinnamon rolls. The company was one of the world’s largest cake manufacturers and producers of grain and other foodstuffs until it was bought by General Mills in 2001. Antitrust law required General Mills to sell off some of the products, so the company kept the rights to refrigerated and frozen Pillsbury branded products. Dry baking products and frosting were sold to the Orrville, Ohio-based Smucker company under license.
Pringles
LoveFood labels Pringles in the top 20 best U.S. food brands. “Pringles… can’t legally be called ‘potato chips’ in the US because they are made with ‘dehydrated processed’ potato rather than slices. Since 1975 they’ve been known as ‘crisps,’ despite being an American product. Developed to prevent the breakage you’ll find with regular chips, Pringles are best known for their bold flavors and signature cardboard tube packaging.”
Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods, founded in 1903, is known for its diverse range of products, including cheese, dairy products, and convenience foods. Kraft is currently most known for the blue box instant macaroni and cheese and Kraft singles cheese slices.
Land O’Lakes
Land O’Lakes was founded on July 8, 1921, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, by representatives from 320 cooperative creameries as the Minnesota Cooperative Creameries Association. Back when Land O’Lakes was founded, most butter was made from sour cream and sold in tubs. Land O’Lakes was the first to make butter from fresh, sweet cream and sell it as individually wrapped sticks.
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