Frederic Melton
Macaroni and cheese is a beloved dish worldwide, but who are the major distributors of this comfort food in the USA? The earliest known iteration of boxed macaroni and cheese came from Kraft Foods, which produced Kraft Macaroni & Cheese (KD) in 1937. Since then, Kraft Foods has continued to be a major distributor of macaroni and cheese in the USA, along with other brands such as Boston Market, Michelina's, and Cracker Barrel. In addition to these large food manufacturers, there are also companies like the Philadelphia Macaroni Company, which has facilities across the United States and provides private-label pasta products for various clients. With its long history of expertise in pasta-making, the Philadelphia Macaroni Company has become a go-to manufacturer for companies seeking innovative pasta solutions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Philadelphia Macaroni Company |
| Year Founded | 1914 (approximately) |
| Expertise | Dry pasta, IQF production |
| Facilities | Warminster, Spokane, and other factories across the US |
| Clients | Branded and private-label clients globally |
| Services | Pasta-making, innovation, and ingredient supply |
| Products | Bulk pasta, branded pasta |
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What You'll Learn
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
The history of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese dates back to the 1930s when a salesman in St. Louis, Missouri, named Grant Leslie, attached processed cheese to boxes of pasta with rubber bands to increase pasta sales. Kraft hired Leslie and began producing Kraft Macaroni & Cheese with the appealing slogan, "make a meal for four in nine minutes". This convenience and affordability were especially attractive during challenging economic times.
The success of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, it offers a quick and easy solution for a meal, requiring only a short preparation time. Secondly, it combines the appeal of comfort food with the familiarity of macaroni and cheese, a dish with roots in medieval England and widespread popularity. Lastly, Kraft capitalised on the factory production of its ingredients, making the product affordable and accessible to a broad section of consumers.
Kraft's distribution strategy also played a significant role in its success. The company established facilities across the United States and later expanded to the West Coast with a pasta-making factory in Spokane, Washington. This strategic expansion allowed them to efficiently distribute their products and maintain a competitive edge in the marketplace.
In conclusion, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese holds a prominent place in the history of convenience food in the United States. Its enduring popularity and distribution across the nation showcase Kraft's ability to adapt to market demands and preferences, solidifying its position as a recognisable brand in the realm of prepared and frozen macaroni and cheese.
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Philadelphia Macaroni Company
The Philadelphia Macaroni Company (PMC) is a fifth-generation family-owned business founded in 1914 by Antonio Marano and his son, Vincent, in Philadelphia, PA. The company has spent over a century advancing the art and science of pasta-making, partnering with major food marketers to develop innovative pasta solutions. They have a unique ability to merge old-world tradition with cutting-edge innovation, which has helped them become leaders in the industrial ingredient marketplace.
PMC has facilities across the United States that produce some of the world's finest pastas for branded and private-label clients globally. They employ approximately 660 people across their pasta manufacturing and milling facilities, all of which are Kosher, Organic Certified, and BRC certified. They develop and manufacture all styles of dry, frozen, and specialty pastas for industrial, branded retail, and foodservice applications.
One of their earliest major accounts was with Campbell's in the mid-1920s, where they manufactured letter-shaped noodles for their alphabet soup line. In the 1970s, they developed one of the first commercially successful low-moisture pastas, and became the first American company to produce ramen noodles.
PMC has continued to grow and expand, acquiring A. Zerega's Sons in 2020, which was the first pasta factory in America, founded in 1848. With this acquisition, PMC added several pasta manufacturing facilities to their portfolio, including locations in Spokane, WA, Grand Forks, ND, Lee's Summit, MO, Harrisburg, PA, Warminster, PA, and Fair Lawn, NJ. They also mill durum and hard red spring wheat through their Minot Milling division in Minot, ND.
PMC remains committed to advancing the art and science of pasta-making, leveraging their expertise and innovation to bring new pasta solutions to the market and meet the evolving needs of consumers.
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National footprint of factories
The Philadelphia Macaroni Company has facilities across the United States that produce pasta for clients worldwide. The company has spent over a century helping companies grow by improving the art and science of pasta-making.
In 2000, the company brought its 86 years of dry pasta expertise to IQF production at its Warminster facility. Later, it purchased an existing pasta-making factory in Spokane, Washington. This expansion brought its retail and food service capabilities to the West Coast and completed its national footprint of strategically located factories for cost-effective pasta distribution.
The Philadelphia Macaroni Company's factories are located in key areas across the United States, ensuring efficient distribution nationwide. With its long history of pasta-making expertise, the company has become a trusted partner for major food marketers, developing innovative pasta solutions and creating new food categories.
The company's facilities are equipped with advanced technology and a skilled workforce that upholds the highest standards in pasta-making. Each factory adheres to the company's philosophy of combining traditional techniques with modern advancements to create superior pasta products.
The Philadelphia Macaroni Company's national footprint of factories enables it to provide prompt delivery and cost-effective distribution to its clients. The strategic locations of these factories ensure that fresh pasta products are easily accessible to customers across the country.
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Pasta-making expertise
The Philadelphia Macaroni Company is a pasta-making company with over 100 years of experience in the art and science of pasta making. The company has facilities across the United States and produces some of the world's finest pastas for branded and private-label clients globally.
The company has a long history of pasta-making expertise and product innovation, partnering with major food marketers to develop innovative pasta solutions and create entirely new categories of food. Their expertise spans dry pasta, IQF production, and bulk pasta engineering, ensuring a superior and consistent consumer experience.
One notable example of their innovation is their expansion into IQF (individually quick frozen) production in 2000 at their Warminster facility, leveraging their 86 years of dry-pasta expertise. This move brought new offerings and marketplace opportunities for the company and its customers.
The Philadelphia Macaroni Company's pasta-making expertise is also evident in their strategic acquisition of an existing pasta-making factory in Spokane, Washington. This expansion allowed the company to establish a national footprint with cost-effective distribution capabilities on the West Coast, serving both retail and foodservice customers.
The company's commitment to advancing the art and science of pasta making is exemplified by their dedication to passing on knowledge and tradition to the next generation. They uphold the family custom of having the next generation start from the factory floor, learning the technical aspects of pasta making, as well as embracing the family philosophy and company mission.
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Kraft Foods
In 1937, Kraft Foods began producing Kraft Macaroni & Cheese (known as Kraft Dinner or KD in Canada) with the appealing slogan "make a meal for four in nine minutes". This product proved to be an instant success in North America, particularly during the economic hardships of the Great Depression. The convenience of the product, coupled with its affordability during World War II rationing, further bolstered its popularity. For just one food rationing stamp, two boxes could be purchased, or one box for 19 cents.
Today, Kraft Foods remains a recognizable brand in the prepared and frozen macaroni and cheese market in the United States. The company has expanded its reach by acquiring existing pasta-making factories, such as the one in Spokane, Washington, which has allowed them to establish a strong presence on the West Coast.
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