Reddi-Wip
Reddi-Wip is a brand of nitrous oxide–propelled, sweetened whipped cream produced by ConAgra Foods. It is sold in the following varieties: Original; Extra Creamy; Light; Fat Free; Non-Dairy; and Chocolate. In 2019, two new varieties of its Reddi-wip whipped topping—Non-Dairy Coconut and Non-Dairy Almond—were released.[1] Both products are dairy-free and plant-based.[2]
Reddi-Wip was packaged in Chicago, Illinois, by Hunt-Wesson Foods and Beatrice Foods at Brookhill Farms Dairy until 1982, when operations were moved to Holland, Michigan and later sold to ConAgra Foods. In 2007, ConAgra relocated the production of Reddi-Wip to its Indianapolis, Indiana facility.
Reddi-Wip remains one of ConAgra Foods' major brands[3] and is the second most eaten brand of whipped topping in the United States behind Cool Whip.[4]
History
During the food rationing era of World War II, Aaron S. "Bunny" Lapin[5] invented Sta-Whip as a cream substitute using vegetable oil.
In 1948 he invented Reddi-Wip in collaboration with Aaron Block, using real cream. They developed a new valve more suitable for dispensing whipped cream, with fluting to create a pattern and a tilt-to-open design that preserves the propellant. Other similar products were on the market at the time, including the non-dairy Rich's Whip Topping and Delsoy Presto Whip, which were developed at Henry Ford's soybean laboratories.[6] Delsoy Presto Whip was packed in pressurized cans that had been developed for military insecticide sprays during the war.
Lapin applied and received a patent for "dispensing valves for gas pressure containers". He achieved national distribution in 1954, selling his company in 1963. In 1968, Hunt-Wesson acquired Reddi-Wip from Marcus Lipsky, Lapin's brother-in-law.[7][8] Lipsky was an associate of Chicago mobster Ross Prio.[9]
In 1983, then Reddi-Wip brand owner Hunt-Wesson Foods briefly experimented with amaretto and butterscotch flavors.
Norton-Simon merged with Beatrice Foods in 1985 and was subsequently acquired in 1990 by ConAgra, Norton-Simon's corporate heir.[10]
References
- Leach, Taylor (2018-06-22). "Reddi-wip Goes Non-Dairy with New Toppings". Dairy Herd. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
- Siegner, Cathy (2018-06-26). "Reddi-wip goes non-dairy with almond and coconut varieties". Food Dive. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
- Rohde, Bruce C. (16 August 2004). "ConAgra Foods, Inc". Mergent's Dividend Achievers Banner. 1 (3): 74. doi:10.1002/div.1106.
- "U.S. population: Most eaten brands of whipped topping (cream type) from 2011 to 2017". Statista: The Statistics Portal. Statista, Inc. 2017. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
- "Over 75 years of aerosol innovations". Clayton Corporation. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- Shurtleff, William; Ayoagi, Akiki (2011). Henry Ford and His Researchers—History of Their Work with Soybeans, Soyfoods and Chemurgy (1928–2011): Extensively Annotated Bibliography and Sourcebook. Lafayette, CA: Soyinfo Center. p. 268. ISBN 978-1-928914-36-5. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- "Forrest Donnell Named to Reddi-Wip, Inc., Post". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 1960-03-23 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Hunt - Wesson Acquires Reddi - Wip, Inc". The Decatur Herald. Decatur, Illinois. 1969-10-14. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
- Demma, Joe; Renner, Tom (1971-10-15). "Hoods muscle in on food market". The Capital Journal. LA Times-Washington Post Service – via Newspapers.com.
- Ravo, Nick (14 July 1999). "Aaron S. Lapin, Reddi-wip Creator, Dies at 85". The New York Times (Business). The New York Times Company. Retrieved 9 May 2018.