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Philadelphia Cream Cheese is a brand of cream cheese that was first produced in 1872 and is currently owned by Kraft Heinz and Mondelez International. Despite its name, it was invented in New York State, not Philadelphia. The name was chosen in 1880 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. Philadelphia Cream Cheese is one of the best-selling brands of cream cheese worldwide and has a market share of more than 60% in the United States.
What You'll Learn
Philadelphia Cream Cheese is a brand
Despite its name, Philadelphia Cream Cheese was invented in New York State, not Philadelphia. In 1872, a New York dairyman named William Lawrence attempted to make Neufchâtel, a tangy, crumbly cheese that was popular in Europe at the time. Instead, he accidentally added too much cream, creating a richer, more spreadable cheese—what would eventually be known as "cream cheese".
It was not marketed as "Philadelphia Cream Cheese" until 1880. That year, Lawrence partnered with A.L. Reynolds, a New York cheese distributor, to sell larger quantities of his 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" for their product.
The company underwent several changes over the years. In 1903, the trademarked Philadelphia name was sold to the Phenix Cheese Company in South Edmeston, New York. In 1928, Phenix merged with Kraft to form the Kraft-Phenix Cheese Company. Today, Philadelphia Cream Cheese has become a staple product in households, eateries, and bagel shops worldwide.
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It was invented in New York State
Philadelphia Cream Cheese is a brand of cream cheese that was invented in New York State in 1872. It is one of the best-selling brands of cream cheese worldwide. Despite its name, it was not invented in Philadelphia.
The story goes that in 1872, a dairyman from Chester, New York, named William Lawrence, attempted to make Neufchâtel, a tangy, crumbly cheese that was popular in Europe at the time. However, he accidentally added an excessive amount of cream, creating a richer, more spreadable cheese. This new cheese would eventually be called "cream cheese".
In 1880, Lawrence partnered with A.L. Reynolds, a cheese distributor in New York, to sell larger quantities of his new cream cheese. They decided to use the name "Philadelphia" on the foil-wrapped blocks of cheese because, at the time, Philadelphia and its surrounding area had a reputation for high-quality dairy farms and creamier cheese products.
The trademarked Philadelphia name was later sold to the Phenix Cheese Company in South Edmeston, New York, which merged with Kraft to form the Kraft-Phenix Cheese Company in 1928. Philadelphia Cream Cheese has since become a staple product in households, eateries, and bagel shops worldwide.
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It was named after Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Cream Cheese is a brand of cream cheese that was first produced in 1872. Despite its name, it was not invented in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Instead, it was created in New York State by a dairyman named William Lawrence. In 1880, Lawrence partnered with a cheese distributor named A.L. Reynolds to sell larger quantities of the product. They decided to use the name "Philadelphia" because the city and its surrounding area had a reputation for high-quality dairy farms and creamier cheese products.
At the time, Philadelphia and its surrounding regions were known for their excellent dairy farms and creamier cheese products. This association with high-quality dairy products made the name "Philadelphia" a strategic choice for the branding of the cream cheese. The name implied a certain level of quality and craftsmanship that helped distinguish the product in the market.
The brand name "Philadelphia" has endured and even contributed to the positive associations with the city itself. Over the years, Philadelphia Cream Cheese has become a staple in households, eateries, and bagel shops worldwide. It has become the most popular cream cheese brand globally, with a market share of over 60% in the United States.
The success of Philadelphia Cream Cheese is a testament to the power of effective branding and marketing. By associating the product with a city known for its dairy excellence, the creators of Philadelphia Cream Cheese were able to elevate their product above the competition. This strategic choice in branding has not only benefited the product but has also inadvertently boosted the reputation of the city of Philadelphia itself.
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It was first produced in 1872
Philadelphia Cream Cheese is a brand of cream cheese that was first produced in 1872. It is currently owned by Kraft Heinz and Mondelez International and is one of the best-selling brands of cream cheese worldwide.
The cheese was invented 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. This new cheese would eventually be called "cream cheese".
It was not marketed as "Philadelphia Cream Cheese" until 1880, when Lawrence partnered with A.L. Reynolds, a cheese distributor in New York, to sell larger quantities of cream cheese. Philadelphia and the surrounding area had a reputation for high-quality dairy farms and creamier cheese products, so they decided to use the name "Philadelphia" on their product to associate it with high-quality cheese.
Since its creation, Philadelphia Cream Cheese has gone through several changes and ownership transfers. The trademarked Philadelphia 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.
Philadelphia Cream Cheese has become a staple product in households, eateries, and bagel shops worldwide. Its popularity has spread beyond the United States, and it is now the most popular cream cheese brand worldwide, sold in at least 80 countries.
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It's one of the world's best-selling cream cheese brands
Philadelphia Cream Cheese is one of the world's best-selling brands of cream cheese. It was first produced in 1872 by William Lawrence, a dairyman from New York, who accidentally added too much cream to a batch of cheese he was making, creating a richer, more spreadable product. It was not marketed as "Philadelphia Cream Cheese" until 1880, when Lawrence partnered with cheese distributor A.L. Reynolds to sell larger quantities of the cheese. The name "Philadelphia" was chosen due to the region's reputation for high-quality dairy farms and creamier cheese products.
In 1903, the Phenix Cheese Company bought the 'Philly' label, and in 1928, Phenix merged with Kraft to form the Kraft-Phenix Cheese Company. Philadelphia Cream Cheese has remained a staple product in households, eateries, and bagel shops worldwide. The brand's popularity has spread beyond the United States, and it is the most popular cream cheese brand worldwide, sold in at least 80 countries.
Philadelphia Cream Cheese offers a range of flavours and styles, including strawberry, pineapple, blueberry, spinach and artichoke, sundried tomato and basil, chives, roasted garlic, smoked salmon, and chipotle. The brand has introduced various product innovations over the years, such as tubs, light and extra light versions, and mini tubs.
The success of Philadelphia Cream Cheese can be attributed to its rich and creamy texture, variety of flavours, and effective marketing and distribution strategies. The brand has endured for over a century and continues to dominate the cream cheese industry, with a market share of more than 60% in the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
Philadelphia is a brand of cream cheese.
Yes, Philadelphia is a brand of cream cheese, and it is one of the best-selling brands worldwide.
In 1872, a New York dairyman named William Lawrence attempted to make Neufchâtel, a tangy, crumbly cheese that was popular in Europe at the time. Instead, he accidentally added too much cream, creating a richer, more spreadable cheese—cream cheese.