Pepperidge Farm
Encyclopedia
Pepperidge Farm is a commercial bakery in the U.S. founded in 1937 by Margaret Rudkin
, who named the brand after her family's property in Fairfield, Connecticut
, which in turn was named for the pepperidge tree, Nyssa sylvatica
. Since 1961, the company has been owned by the Campbell Soup Company
. It is based in Norwalk, Connecticut
.
Its products include Milanos
, and Nantucket cookie
s, Goldfish
cracker
s, and varieties of bread
. It distributes Tim Tams in the US, manufactured by another Campbell's subsidiary in Australia.
began baking bread in 1937 for her youngest son Mark who had asthma and was allergic to most commercially processed foods. She home-baked bread that her allergic son could eat. Her son's doctor recommended it to his other patients and encouraged her to bake more bread. She approached the owner of a local grocery store to see if he would be willing to sell her "Pepperidge Farm" bread. After tasting a slice, he took all the loaves she had brought with her and placed an order for more. Margaret's husband Henry, a Wall Street broker, began taking loaves of bread with him to New York to be sold in specialty stores. She soon moved the growing business out of her kitchen and into her garage, then into a factory in 1940. Rationing during World War II forced her to cut back production due to ingredient shortage. In 1947 Margaret opened a modern commercial bakery in Norwalk, Connecticut
.
On a trip to Europe in the 1950s, Rudkin discovered fancy chocolate cookies that she believed would be popular in the United States. She bought the rights to produce and sell them, and the Distinctive Cookies line was born. Under her management, Pepperidge Farm continued to expand into other products, including frozen pastry items and, later, the Goldfish snack cracker from Switzerland. In 1961 she sold the business to the Campbell Soup Company
and became the first woman to serve on the board. She drew on her knowledge and experience to write The Margaret Rudkin Pepperidge Farm Cookbook in 1963, which was the first cookbook ever to make the New York Times bestseller list.
There was a long-running series of commercials promoting Pepperidge Farm that ran on television for three decades starring radio actor Parker Fennelly
as the spokesman, playing the role of the often nostalgic philosopher, starting in the late 1950s and lasting through the late 1970s. Parker Fennelly died in 1988 at the age of 97. Several of the commercials he starred in played into the 1980s.
In an episode of The Golden Girls
, Sophia complained about the high price of Pepperidge Farm cookies and said not to buy them with her money.
In the movie Big Daddy, Sonny compares his ex-girlfriend Vanessa's new older boyfriend to "the Pepperidge Farm guy," referring to Parker Fennelly
.
In 2004, the music group Animal Collective
sampled a 1985 Pepperidge Farm commercial featuring Parker Fennelly talking about blueberry muffins in the song "Muffins",http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzXXZd03WwE&feature=related which they performed live occasionally. The most prominently heard line is "simple things make better muffins." In 2005 the song was released on the "Grass"
single retitled as "Must Be Treeman" a variation of the first line the man says, "must be dreaming".
In an episode of Family Guy
("Hell Comes To Quahog
"), a Pepperidge Farm advertisement was parodied.
In an episode of Futurama
(A Fishful of Dollars
) Fry is seen watching a parody of an old Pepperidge Farm commercial.
In an episode of Will & Grace
Karen erupts into a tirade about her need of a Mint Milano.
In an episode of Friends
(The One Where Eddie Won't Go), Chandler's new roommate Eddie accuses him of killing his fish, which is actually a goldfish cracker. When Eddie buys a new (live) fish and describes it as "feistier" than the previous one, Chandler points out that this is because "it was made by Pepperidge Farm".
Margaret Rudkin
Margaret Rudkin , of Fairfield, Connecticut, was the founder of Pepperidge Farm.Born in New York City, she was the eldest of five children of Joseph and Margaret "Healey" Fogarty. She was taught to cook by her grandmother, who started her off with cakes and biscuits. She moved to Long Island when...
, who named the brand after her family's property in Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...
, which in turn was named for the pepperidge tree, Nyssa sylvatica
Black Tupelo
Nyssa sylvatica, commonly known as black tupelo, tupelo, or black gum, is a medium-sized deciduous tree native to eastern North America from New England and southern Ontario south to central Florida and eastern Texas, as well as Mexico.-Names:Nyssa sylvaticas genus name refers to a Greek water...
. Since 1961, the company has been owned by the Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company , also known as Campbell's, is an American producer of canned soups and related products. Campbell's products are sold in 120 countries around the world. It is headquartered in Camden, New Jersey...
. It is based in Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
.
Its products include Milanos
Milano (cookie)
Milano cookies are a trademarked dessert manufactured by Pepperidge Farm as part of their series of "European" cookies. Each cookie consists of a thin layer of rich chocolate sandwiched between two biscuit cookies....
, and Nantucket cookie
Cookie
In the United States and Canada, a cookie is a small, flat, baked treat, usually containing fat, flour, eggs and sugar. In most English-speaking countries outside North America, the most common word for this is biscuit; in many regions both terms are used, while in others the two words have...
s, Goldfish
Goldfish (snack)
Goldfish are snack crackers manufactured by Pepperidge Farm, a division of the Campbell Soup Company. The crackers come in several flavors, and since 1997, the crackers have small imprints of an eye and a smile and some wink at you...
cracker
Cracker (food)
A cracker is a baked good commonly made from grain flour dough and typically made in quantity in various hand-sized or smaller shapes. Flavorings or seasonings, such as salt, herbs, seeds, and/or cheese, may be added to the dough or sprinkled on top before baking...
s, and varieties of bread
Bread
Bread is a staple food prepared by cooking a dough of flour and water and often additional ingredients. Doughs are usually baked, but in some cuisines breads are steamed , fried , or baked on an unoiled frying pan . It may be leavened or unleavened...
. It distributes Tim Tams in the US, manufactured by another Campbell's subsidiary in Australia.
History
Margaret RudkinMargaret Rudkin
Margaret Rudkin , of Fairfield, Connecticut, was the founder of Pepperidge Farm.Born in New York City, she was the eldest of five children of Joseph and Margaret "Healey" Fogarty. She was taught to cook by her grandmother, who started her off with cakes and biscuits. She moved to Long Island when...
began baking bread in 1937 for her youngest son Mark who had asthma and was allergic to most commercially processed foods. She home-baked bread that her allergic son could eat. Her son's doctor recommended it to his other patients and encouraged her to bake more bread. She approached the owner of a local grocery store to see if he would be willing to sell her "Pepperidge Farm" bread. After tasting a slice, he took all the loaves she had brought with her and placed an order for more. Margaret's husband Henry, a Wall Street broker, began taking loaves of bread with him to New York to be sold in specialty stores. She soon moved the growing business out of her kitchen and into her garage, then into a factory in 1940. Rationing during World War II forced her to cut back production due to ingredient shortage. In 1947 Margaret opened a modern commercial bakery in Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
.
On a trip to Europe in the 1950s, Rudkin discovered fancy chocolate cookies that she believed would be popular in the United States. She bought the rights to produce and sell them, and the Distinctive Cookies line was born. Under her management, Pepperidge Farm continued to expand into other products, including frozen pastry items and, later, the Goldfish snack cracker from Switzerland. In 1961 she sold the business to the Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company , also known as Campbell's, is an American producer of canned soups and related products. Campbell's products are sold in 120 countries around the world. It is headquartered in Camden, New Jersey...
and became the first woman to serve on the board. She drew on her knowledge and experience to write The Margaret Rudkin Pepperidge Farm Cookbook in 1963, which was the first cookbook ever to make the New York Times bestseller list.
There was a long-running series of commercials promoting Pepperidge Farm that ran on television for three decades starring radio actor Parker Fennelly
Parker Fennelly
Parker Fennelly was an American actor who appeared in ten films, numerous television episodes and hundreds of radio programs.-Allen's Alley:...
as the spokesman, playing the role of the often nostalgic philosopher, starting in the late 1950s and lasting through the late 1970s. Parker Fennelly died in 1988 at the age of 97. Several of the commercials he starred in played into the 1980s.
In popular culture
The Golden Girls
The Golden Girls is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris, which originally aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992. Starring Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, the show centers on four older women sharing a home in Miami, Florida...
, Sophia complained about the high price of Pepperidge Farm cookies and said not to buy them with her money.
In the movie Big Daddy, Sonny compares his ex-girlfriend Vanessa's new older boyfriend to "the Pepperidge Farm guy," referring to Parker Fennelly
Parker Fennelly
Parker Fennelly was an American actor who appeared in ten films, numerous television episodes and hundreds of radio programs.-Allen's Alley:...
.
In 2004, the music group Animal Collective
Animal Collective
Animal Collective is an experimental psychedelic band originally from Baltimore, Maryland, currently based in New York City. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare , Panda Bear , Deakin , and Geologist...
sampled a 1985 Pepperidge Farm commercial featuring Parker Fennelly talking about blueberry muffins in the song "Muffins",http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzXXZd03WwE&feature=related which they performed live occasionally. The most prominently heard line is "simple things make better muffins." In 2005 the song was released on the "Grass"
Grass (song)
"Grass" is the first single from Animal Collective's 2005 album, Feels. Upon its release, it was showered with critical praise for its delicate balance of melodic pop sensibilities and discordant yelping. Pitchfork Media listed the song at #31 on its list of , claiming it is "as infectious as...
single retitled as "Must Be Treeman" a variation of the first line the man says, "must be dreaming".
In an episode of Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
("Hell Comes To Quahog
Hell Comes to Quahog
"Hell Comes to Quahog" is the third episode of the fifth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox on September 24, 2006. The episode follows teenage daughter Meg after she requests that her parents buy her a car. At the showroom, however, her father, Peter,...
"), a Pepperidge Farm advertisement was parodied.
In an episode of Futurama
Futurama
Futurama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series follows the adventures of a late 20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J...
(A Fishful of Dollars
A Fishful of Dollars
"A Fishful of Dollars" is episode six in the first season of Futurama. It originally aired in North America on April 27, 1999. The episode was written by Patric Verrone and directed by Ron Hughart and Gregg Vanzo. Pamela Anderson guest stars as her own preserved head in a jar. This episode marks...
) Fry is seen watching a parody of an old Pepperidge Farm commercial.
In an episode of Will & Grace
Will & Grace
Will & Grace was an American television sitcom that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 21, 1998 to May 18, 2006 for a total of eight seasons. Will & Grace remains the most successful television series with gay principal characters...
Karen erupts into a tirade about her need of a Mint Milano.
In an episode of Friends
Friends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
(The One Where Eddie Won't Go), Chandler's new roommate Eddie accuses him of killing his fish, which is actually a goldfish cracker. When Eddie buys a new (live) fish and describes it as "feistier" than the previous one, Chandler points out that this is because "it was made by Pepperidge Farm".