Rold Gold
Encyclopedia
Rold Gold refers to first a company and then a remaining brand of pretzels, now owned by Frito-Lay
. The company, originally named the American Cone and Pretzel Company, was founded in 1917 by prominent Philadelphia businessman L.J. Schumaker.
Run for its first half century as a family business
, Rold Gold expanded its operations to St. Louis, Missouri
and El Segundo, California
, and established a reputation for producing pretzels. From 1921 until 1955, the company also owned the Continental Packing Company, a pimento
canning plant located near Macon, Georgia
, but sold that part of the business in 1955, in response to increasing competition from overseas canners. The Schumaker family sold Rold Gold to Red Dot Foods Inc. of Madison, Wisconsin
in 1960, but the deal fell through when Red Dot went bankrupt and its principal owner committed suicide. Frito-Lay then purchased Rold Gold in 1961, and has owned the pretzel company ever since.
In the years since its purchase by Frito-Lay, Rold Gold has expanded its sales nationwide. While on-bag advertising states that Rold Gold is "America's No. 1 Pretzel," when measured by total dollar sales in the United States, Rold Gold is currently the #2 pretzel brand behind Snyder's of Hanover
.
Rold Gold pretzels offer a range of pretzel and snack products. All of these items are baked, not fried
, and most are lactose
free.
Frito-Lay
Frito-Lay North America is the division of PepsiCo that manufactures, markets and sells corn chips, potato chips and other snack foods. The primary snack food brands produced under the Frito-Lay name include Fritos corn chips, Cheetos cheese-flavored snacks, Doritos and Tostitos tortilla chips,...
. The company, originally named the American Cone and Pretzel Company, was founded in 1917 by prominent Philadelphia businessman L.J. Schumaker.
Run for its first half century as a family business
Family business
A family business is a business in which one or more members of one or more families have a significant ownership interest and significant commitments toward the business’ overall well-being....
, Rold Gold expanded its operations to St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and El Segundo, California
El Segundo, California
El Segundo is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located on the Santa Monica Bay, it was incorporated on January 18, 1917, and is one of the Beach Cities of Los Angeles County and part of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments...
, and established a reputation for producing pretzels. From 1921 until 1955, the company also owned the Continental Packing Company, a pimento
Pimento
A pimento or cherry pepper is a variety of large, red, heart-shaped chili pepper that measures 3 to 4 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide . The flesh of the pimento is sweet, succulent and more aromatic than that of the red bell pepper...
canning plant located near Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, but sold that part of the business in 1955, in response to increasing competition from overseas canners. The Schumaker family sold Rold Gold to Red Dot Foods Inc. of Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
in 1960, but the deal fell through when Red Dot went bankrupt and its principal owner committed suicide. Frito-Lay then purchased Rold Gold in 1961, and has owned the pretzel company ever since.
In the years since its purchase by Frito-Lay, Rold Gold has expanded its sales nationwide. While on-bag advertising states that Rold Gold is "America's No. 1 Pretzel," when measured by total dollar sales in the United States, Rold Gold is currently the #2 pretzel brand behind Snyder's of Hanover
Snyder's of Hanover
Snyder's of Hanover is a bakery and snack food distribution company based in Hanover, Pennsylvania, specializing in pretzels. Snyder's of Hanover is the #1 pretzel company in the United States , and also the global leader in pretzel sales. Snyder's of Hanover is the #2 salty snack foods company...
.
Rold Gold pretzels offer a range of pretzel and snack products. All of these items are baked, not fried
Frying
Frying is the cooking of food in oil or another fat, a technique that originated in ancient Egypt around 2500 BC. Chemically, oils and fats are the same, differing only in melting point, but the distinction is only made when needed. In commerce, many fats are called oils by custom, e.g...
, and most are lactose
Lactose
Lactose is a disaccharide sugar that is found most notably in milk and is formed from galactose and glucose. Lactose makes up around 2~8% of milk , although the amount varies among species and individuals. It is extracted from sweet or sour whey. The name comes from or , the Latin word for milk,...
free.
External links
- Official website
- Review of Rold Gold Pretzels Classic Style Thins - A short review of Rold Gold Pretzels Classic Style Thins featuring images of the front & back of the bag as well as the pretzels.