Ritz Crackers
Ritz Crackers is a brand of snack cracker introduced by Nabisco in 1934. Outside the United States, the Ritz Cracker brand is made by a subsidiary of Mondelēz International.[1] They are disc-shaped, lightly salted, and bear seven perforations and a finely scalloped edge. A single serving of the original cracker (about 5) provides 330 kilojoules (79 kilocalories) of food energy, 1 gram of protein, and 4 grams of fat; the whole wheat variety provides 290 kJ (70 kcal) and 2.5 grams of fat.
 | |
| Type | Brand |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food |
| Founded | 1934 |
| Headquarters | East Hanover, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Parent | Nabisco (Mondelēz International) |
| Website | www |
History
Nabisco introduced the Ritz Cracker in 1934.[2] Looking to compete with the similar Hi Ho cracker made by their competitor Sunshine Biscuits, they tasked an employee, Sydney Stern, to create a name and a marketing plan. Stern chose the name 'Ritz', which appealed to individuals enduring the privations of the Great Depression by offering them "a bite of the good life". He also designed the blue circle/yellow lettering logo design, inspired by the round label inside his hat.[3] In 2011, Ritz was identified in a YouGov poll as the "best perceived snack brand" among American consumers.[4]
A cartoon drawing of a box of Ritz Crackers can be seen in Minnie’s Surprise Party (1939), an animated theatrical advertisement/cartoon short produced by Walt Disney Productions for Nabisco.
Size
The crackers measure approximately 46 millimetres (1.8 in) across.
United States
Ritz Crackers varieties include Original Ritz, Low Sodium Ritz, Reduced Fat Ritz, Whole Wheat Ritz, Honey Wheat Ritz, Roasted Vegetable Ritz, Bacon Ritz, Garlic Butter Ritz, Honey Butter Ritz, Hint of Salt Ritz, and Ritz Fresh Stacks.[5]
They are also available as sandwiches with peanut butter, cream cheese, or Cheddar cheese.
United Kingdom
Ritz Crackers are available in the United Kingdom in three varieties: Original and Cheese flavour are sold in 200 g boxes, and Ritz Cheese Sandwich (a cheese spread sandwiched between two Ritz Crackers) is available in 125 g roll packs and 33 g snack packs.
Ritz Crackers are available as dippers for Dairylea Dunkers and Philadelphia Snack. Ritz Crackers are also available as part of a confectionery product made by Cadbury in which the Crackers form a sandwich filled with Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate.
See also
References
- Bowers, Simon (July 11, 2006). "Shake-up in ownership of food brands". The Guardian. London. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
- Cross, Mary (2002). A Century of American Icons: 100 Products and Slogans from the 20th-Century Consumer Culture. Greenwood Press. pp. 88–89. ISBN 978-0313314810. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- Alioto, Daisy (August 10, 2016) How the Ritz Cracker Got Its Name Food & Wine Magazine. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- Willett, Megan (September 24, 2012) The Most Popular Snack Food In America. Business Insider. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- Ritz Products, from the official site
