Who owns Nabisco?- Full History

Who owns Nabisco?

Nabisco, formerly known as National Biscuit Company, is an American company that manufactures and sells cookies and biscuits. It is one of the largest bakeries globally, employing more than 1,200 workers who mainly sell its products to the U.S., U.K., Mexico, Bolivia, Venezuela, and other parts of South America. Nabisco products include famous snacks enjoyed worldwide: Chips Ahoy!, Belvita, Oreo cookies, Ritz Crackers, Teddy Grahams, Triscuit Crackers, and Fig Newtons and Wheat Thins, to name a few. In addition, Nabisco is one of the largest food distributors manufacturing around 320 million pounds of food annually. Here, we’ll know Who owns Nabisco?

Nabisco found by William Moore, Adolphus Green, and John G. Zeller in 1898. Its headquarters is at East Hanover Township, New Jersey, U.S.  Nabisco, formerly owned by Phillip Morris Company, Inc. (Altria Group, Inc.). Phillip Morris Company, Inc. was the parent company of Kraft Foods who merged Nabisco with it in December 2000, after which Kraft Foods marketed Nabisco products. But after Kraft Foods split with Nabisco in 2011, Nabisco was taken over and is now owned by Mondelez International. Mondelez International is an American snack food and beverage company based in Chicago, Illinois, the U.S. Thus, Nabisco is a subsidiary of Illinois-based Mondelez. 

Nabisco formerly owns after the merger of three different companies on June 19th, 1898. New York Biscuit Company consisted of eight bakeries such as Pearson & Sons Bakery and Josiah Bent Bakery, which William Moore owned. American Biscuit and  Manufacturing Company, which make up of 40 different bakeries owned by Adolphus Green. Richmond Steam Bakery, owned by John G. Zeller. These three companies merged to form the National Biscuit Company, which came to be known as Nabisco.

Phillip Morris Company, Inc. acquired Nabisco in 2000 at an estimated sum of about $19.2 billion. The actual net worth of Nabisco as of 2021 cannon be determined as it has now become a part of Mondelez International. However, after looking at the net worth of Mondelez, which is about $86.7 billion as of August 8th, 2021, we can safely assume that the company has prospered and grown in its market value. Most of the snacks produced by Nabisco, such as Oreos, Ritz Crackers, Fig Newtons, to name a few, are pretty famous amongst the residents of the U.S. and even worldwide. Although Nabisco is widespread, the changing times and the rapidly increasing technological advancements have drastically impacted the franchise. The parent company of Nabisco, Mondelez, has decided to shut down a Nabisco plant in Fair Lawn and another plant in Atlanta due to the outdated manufacturing capabilities of these plants. The decision to shut down the plant was taken in February and was officially closed on July 16th, 2021. 

History of Nabisco

Nabisco has had a significant impact on the history of the food industry in the United States. It is one of the oldest bakeries, nearly 123 years old, that has been running to date and one of the largest bakeries in the world, employing over 1,200 workers. New York Biscuit Company, American Biscuit and Manufacturing Company, and Richmond Steam Bakery owned by William Moore, Adolphus Green, and John G. Zeller merged in 1898 to form the National Biscuit Company. National Biscuit Company had almost 50 bakeries under it when the company was first established. The first president of National Biscuit Company (NB.C or Nabisco) was Adolphus Green, who managed the company until 1923, after which John G. Zeller became the president till 1931.  

Nabisco then merged with Standard Brands in 1981 to form Nabisco Brands. Standard Brands was a food production company formed in 1929 by J.P Morgan through the merger of different companies such as Fleischmann Company and Royal Baking Powder Company, to name a few. Finally, Nabisco Brands merged with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company to form RJR Nabisco, which sold the Nabisco cold cereals to Kraft Foods in 1993. In 2000, one of the most significant mergers in the history of the U.S. food industry occurred when Philip Morris Company, Inc. acquired Nabisco and merged it with Kraft Foods, one of the subsidiaries of Philip Morris Company, Inc. 

Kraft Foods and Nabisco separated in 2011, with Kraft Foods becoming a grocery company and Nabisco taking over by Mondelez International, which produces chocolate, cookies, biscuits, gum, confectionery, and powdered beverages. This Illinois-based company became a parent company of Nabisco, and Nabisco has since become a subsidiary company of Mondelez. 

What is Nabisco’s current situation?

After Nabisco came under Mondelez International in 2011, it has done reasonably good in its sales as Nabisco products such as Oreos, Ritz Crackers, Fig Newtons, among others, are still prevalent both in the U.S. and the outside market. As of 2017, Nabisco Oreos was the second most popular cookie brand in the U.S., making about $674.2 million worth of sales that year. Nabisco Oreos also made deals worth $778.8 million in the previous year (2016). Nabisco is a subsidiary company of Mondelez International, one of the world’s leading snack companies. The net worth of Mondelez International as of August 8th, 2021, is estimated to be around $86.7 billion. Popular Nabisco products are Chips Ahoy!, Belvita, Oreo cookies, Ritz Crackers, Teddy Grahams, Triscuit Crackers, Fig Newtons, and Wheat Thins name a few. These pr0ducts sell in the U.S., U.K., Mexico, Bolivia, Venezuela, and other parts of South America and are exported to many other nations worldwide. 

Link to the site describing the sales of Nabisco products: https://www.statista.com/statistics/189610/top-cookie-brands-in-the-united-states/

The Future of Nabisco

Even though Nabisco is an internationally recognized food company and its products are very popular in and outside of the U.S., it has failed to cope with the changing times and the rapidly increasing technological advancements. Mondelez, the parent company of Nabisco, must face the fact that the Nabisco bakeries are in dire need of modernization and cannot complete the demand for the products with the decades-old system. Reports suggest that capital improvements of Nabisco bakeries have been neglected since the reconstruction phase of the 1950s. 

Due to the outdated manufacturing capabilities, many bakeries such as the one in Fair Lawn and Atlanta have been permanently shut down by the parent company, Mondelez International, on July 16th, 2021. Almost 600 workers who worked at these plants were affected due to this decision. Many of them let got which forced them to look for new jobs. The rest of the workers transferred to other plants. 

Link to the full report about the closing of these Nabisco bakeries: https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/fair-lawn/2021/07/15/nabisco-plant-fair-lawn-nj-closes-hundreds-unemployed/7963131002/

Conclusion

Nabisco, formerly known as National Biscuit Company, is currently owned by Mondelez International. Mondelez International acquired Nabisco in 2011 when Kraft Foods, who were the former owners of Nabisco since 2000, decided to split up with Nabisco. Although different institutions have owned Nabisco since itsbeen form by William Moore, Adolphus Green, and John G. Zeller, it has gained popularity. It is one of the leading snacks distributors in the U.S. Nabisco can expand further due to its well-known brands, such as Ritz, Oreo, and Triscuit, to mention a few. The recognition of these brands and the acquisitions of various companies should help Mondelez maintain its position as a leader in the food market.

Link to an article about Nabisco’s history:

https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/economics-business-and labor/businesses-and-occupations/Nabisco-foods-group

Frequently Asked Questions 

  1. Which Nabisco products are the most popular in the U.S.?

The most popular Nabisco products in the U.S. are Oreos, Chips Ahoy!, Ritz Crackers, Newtons, Wheat Thins, Belvita, and Teddy Grahams. However, Nabisco’s best-seller in the U. S. as well as worldwide is Oreo Cookies. 

Link to an article showing the statistics of the increasing sales of Oreo Cookies: https://www.foodonline.com/doc/nabisco-remains-king-of-the-cookie-makers-0002

  1. Which Oreo variety is the most popular?

Although there are many different varieties of Oreo, such as chocolate, strawberry, and other unique and weird flavors such as Candy Corn, Jelly Donut, and Fruit Punch, to name a few, the classic Oreo is the most demanded variety. Statistics show that the demand for the Classic Oreo is 206 %  higher than the demand for the rest of the types combined. 

  1. What are some of Nabisco’s discontinued products?

One of Nabisco’s most popular products that were discontinued was Nabisco Swiss Cheese Crackers. Although it has been many years since this product was discontinued, its fans have kept its memory and are still trying to bring it back. There are reports of a page known as “ Bring Back Nabisco Swiss Cheese Crackers” on Facebook dedicated to this matter. Other discontinued Nabisco products are Largo Doone Cookies, Cheese Nips Crackers, Wheat Thin Crackers, Belvita Breakfast Biscuits – Soft baked Oats and Chocolate, Wheat Thins Crackers – Spicy Buffalo, and Wheat Thins Crackers – Zesty Salsa, to name a few. 

Link to the article citing all the Nabisco discontinued products:

https://www.officeworld.com/shop/10281/14Q1/

Who owns Nabisco?- Full History

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