Patrick Oconnell
Philadelphia Cream Cheese is a brand of cream cheese that was first produced in 1872. Despite its name, it was invented in New York State and has never been produced in Philadelphia. The name was chosen as part of a marketing strategy to associate the product with the high-quality food and dairy farming for which the Philadelphia area was known at the time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | New York |
| Year of origin | 1872 |
| Creator | William Lawrence, a dairyman from Chester, New York |
| Reason for the name | Philadelphia and its surrounding area had a reputation for high-quality dairy farms and creamier cheese products |
| Year the name was adopted | 1880 |
| Name adopter | Alvah Reynolds, a New York cheese distributor |
| Current owner | Kraft Heinz and Mondelez International |
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What You'll Learn
The name 'Philadelphia' was a marketing strategy
The name "Philadelphia Cream Cheese" is indeed a marketing strategy. The product was first developed in 1872 by William Lawrence, a dairyman from New York State. Lawrence attempted to make Neufchâtel, a tangy, crumbly cheese that was popular in Europe at the time. However, he accidentally added too much cream, creating a richer, more spreadable cheese—what would eventually be known as cream cheese.
In 1880, Lawrence partnered with Alvah Reynolds, a New York cheese distributor, to sell larger quantities of his new product. At the time, Philadelphia had a flourishing dairy market and was widely considered the country's top spot for high-quality dairy products. As a result, Lawrence and Reynolds decided to use the name "Philadelphia" to market their cream cheese, despite it having no connection to the city. This was a strategic move to associate their product with the high-quality dairy farming for which Philadelphia was known, thus enhancing its reputation and appeal to consumers.
The use of the Philadelphia name proved to be a successful marketing tactic, and the brand became synonymous with cream cheese. The product gained popularity, and the company underwent various changes over the years. In the 1920s, Lawrence's company merged with Kraft, and the trademarked Philadelphia name was sold to the Phenix Cheese Company in South Edmeston, New York. This merger formed the Kraft-Phenix Cheese Company, further solidifying the presence of Philadelphia Cream Cheese in the market.
The brand's popularity has spread worldwide, and it remains a staple in households, eateries, and bagel shops. The name "Philadelphia" has become so strongly associated with cream cheese that the company took legal action to prevent others from using the word "Philadelphia" on dairy products. This dispute highlights the power of the brand name and the company's commitment to protecting its trademark rights.
While the origin of the name "Philadelphia Cream Cheese" lies in marketing strategy rather than geographic origin, it has undoubtedly contributed to the success and longevity of the brand. The name continues to evoke positive associations and a sense of quality, even as the product has evolved and expanded its reach globally.
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Philly was known for high-quality dairy
Philadelphia Cream Cheese was invented in New York State in 1872 by William Lawrence, a dairyman from Chester. However, the product got its name in 1880 when Lawrence partnered with Alvah Reynolds, a New York cheese distributor, to sell larger quantities of the cheese. The name "Philadelphia" was chosen as, at the time, Philadelphia and its surrounding area were known for their high-quality dairy farms and creamier cheese products.
In the 1870s and onwards, Philadelphia was well-known for its butter, cream, and other dairy products. Cities in the Mid-Atlantic area, such as Washington DC, Baltimore, and Atlantic City, sought to stock Philadelphia-made dairy products in their grocery stores. The most popular butter in the 1880s was "Sharpless Gilt-Edge Butter" or "Sharpless Philadelphia Butter", which came from a creamery on the outskirts of Philadelphia.
Due to Philadelphia's reputation for high-quality dairy, using the city's name was a strategic marketing decision to associate the product with the area's dairy farming. This strategy proved successful, and the brand name "Philadelphia" has become synonymous with cream cheese, despite the product's origins in New York.
It is important to note that the choice of the name "Philadelphia" was not without controversy. In the 1950s, a lawsuit was filed claiming that labelling dairy products as originating in Philadelphia when they did not was misleading and illegal. This dispute, however, did not change the fact that the name "Philadelphia" had already become strongly associated with the product.
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The cheese was never made in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Cream Cheese was never made in Philadelphia. The cheese was first produced in 1872 in New York State by a dairyman from Chester, New York, named William Lawrence. Lawrence attempted to make Neufchâtel, a tangy, crumblier cheese that was popular in Europe at the time. However, he accidentally added an excessive amount of cream, creating a richer, more spreadable cheese, which would eventually be called "cream cheese".
In 1880, Lawrence partnered with A.L. or Alvah Reynolds, a cheese distributor in New York, to sell larger quantities of cream cheese. At the time, Philadelphia and its surrounding area had a reputation for high-quality dairy farms and creamier cheese products, so they decided to use the name "Philadelphia" on the foil-wrapped cheese. This was a marketing strategy to associate the product with the high-quality food and dairy farming for which the Philadelphia area was known at the time.
The trademarked Philadelphia name was later sold to the Phenix Cheese Company in South Edmeston, New York, in 1928. Phenix merged with Kraft to form the Kraft-Phenix Cheese Company. Despite the name, Philadelphia Cream Cheese has never been made in Philadelphia throughout its 135-year history. The name "Philadelphia" on the product refers to the brand name and not the location where it was produced.
The success of Philadelphia Cream Cheese can be attributed to its effective branding and marketing strategy, which leveraged the positive reputation of Philadelphia's dairy industry at the time. The brand's popularity has spread worldwide, and it remains one of the best-selling cream cheese brands, with a strong presence in households, eateries, and bagel shops globally.
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The original recipe was created by accident
Philadelphia Cream Cheese is a brand of cream cheese that was first produced in 1872. Despite its name, it was invented in New York State, not Philadelphia. The original recipe was created by accident. In 1872, William Lawrence, a dairyman from Chester, New York, attempted to make Neufchâtel, a tangy, crumblier cheese product that was popular in Europe at the time. Instead, he accidentally added an excessive amount of cream and created a richer, more spreadable cheese, which would eventually be called "cream cheese".
Neufchâtel is a French cheese that was traditionally made with unskimmed milk and cream, resulting in a higher fat content than other soft cheeses. It is known for its tangy, slightly salty taste and crumbly texture. Lawrence's accidental addition of too much cream resulted in a product that was even richer and more spreadable than traditional Neufchâtel. This new cheese was also fresher than the European version, as it was not aged.
At the time, Philadelphia and its surrounding area had a reputation for high-quality dairy farms and creamier cheese products. In 1880, Lawrence partnered with A.L. Reynolds, a New York cheese distributor, to sell larger quantities of his new cream cheese. They decided to use the name "Philadelphia" to capitalise on the city's reputation for dairy products. Thus, the name "Philadelphia Cream Cheese" was born, despite the product having no connection to the city.
The choice of the name "Philadelphia" proved to be a successful marketing strategy, as it evoked positive associations with high-quality dairy products. The brand became widely popular, and Philadelphia Cream Cheese is now one of the best-selling brands of cream cheese worldwide. The company has since gone through various changes, with the trademarked Philadelphia name being sold and merged with other companies over the years. However, the original accidental recipe created by Lawrence remains a staple in households and eateries worldwide.
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The brand is now owned by Kraft Heinz and Mondelez International
Philadelphia Cream Cheese is not and has never been made in Philadelphia. The brand name, however, has always been associated with the city. The product was first developed and produced in upstate New York in 1872 by William Lawrence, a dairyman from Chester, New York. Lawrence aimed to make Neufchâtel, a tangy, crumbly cheese product that was popular in Europe at the time. Instead, he accidentally added an excessive amount of cream and created a richer, more spreadable cheese, which would eventually be called "cream cheese".
In 1880, Lawrence partnered with Alvah Reynolds, a New York cheese distributor, to sell larger quantities of cream cheese. At the time, Philadelphia and its surrounding area had a reputation for high-quality dairy farms and creamier cheese products, so they decided to use the name "Philadelphia" on the foil-wrapped cheese. The brand name was sold to the Phenix Cheese Company in South Edmeston, New York, in 1903. In 1928, Phenix merged with Kraft to form the Kraft-Phenix Cheese Company.
The brand's popularity has spread outside of the United States, and it is now the most popular cream cheese brand worldwide. It is currently owned by Kraft Heinz and Mondelez International. The company has faced some challenges over the years, including a lawsuit in the 1950s claiming that labelling dairy products as originating in Philadelphia when they did not was misleading and illegal. However, Philadelphia Cream Cheese has remained a staple product in households, eateries, and bagel shops worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Philadelphia cream cheese has never been made in Philadelphia. It was first produced in New York State in 1872.
In 1880, New York cheese distributor Alvah Reynolds began selling the cheese and called it "Philadelphia Cream Cheese". At the time, Philadelphia was known for its high-quality dairy farms and creamier cheese products, so they decided to use the name "Philadelphia" to denote quality.
No, Philadelphia cream cheese has never been made in Philadelphia in its 135-year history.
Yes, it is one of the best-selling brands of cream cheese worldwide and is currently owned by Kraft Heinz and Mondelez International.
