Ritz
Product typeCrackers
OwnerMondelez International
Produced byNabisco and Kraft Foods
CountryUnited States
Introduced1934 (1934)
Websitewww.ritzcrackers.com

Ritz Crackers is a brand of snack cracker introduced by Nabisco in 1934. The original style crackers are disc-shaped, lightly salted, and approximately 46 millimetres (1.8 in) in diameter.. Each cracker has seven perforations and a finely scalloped edge. Today, the Ritz cracker brand is owned by Mondelēz International.[1]

A single serving of the original cracker (about 5 crackers or 15 grams) 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.

History

In the early 1900s, the Jackson Cracker company of Jackson, Michigan, developed a small, round cracker called the Jaxon. The company was bought out by Nabisco in 1919. 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 Mickey's Surprise Party (1939), an animated theatrical advertisement/cartoon short produced by Walt Disney Productions for Nabisco.[5]

United States

Ritz Crackers varieties include Original, Roasted Vegetable, Honey Wheat, Garlic Butter, Reduced Fat, Hint of Salt, Whole Wheat, Everything and Ritz Fresh Stacks.[6]

A 42-gram "fresh stack" sleeve typically consists of 13 crackers, and contains 220 calories. A standard 126-gram sleeve consists of 32 crackers, and contains 512 calories.[7]

They are also available as sandwiches with peanut butter and cheddar cheese.

International

Ritz Crackers are available in the United Kingdom and Ireland 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. They are also available as mini-crackers in 25g multi-packs.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "RITZ Crackers Homepage". Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ Alioto, Daisy (August 10, 2016) How the Ritz Cracker Got Its Name Food & Wine Magazine. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  4. ↑ Willett, Megan (September 24, 2012) The Most Popular Snack Food In America. Business Insider. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Mickey's Surprise Party (Still 6 of 6)". Walt Disney Company. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010.
  6. ↑ Ritz Products, from the official site
  7. ↑ Product Details
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