Articles by Douglas J. Peckenpaugh

The history of the American food industry boasts a number of iconic snack foods. And one of the best is Cheez-It crackers, a brand currently owned by another American classic, Kellogg Co. In fact, Kellogg's is home to a wealth of historic snack and bakery products, including Corn Flakes and Pringles, among dozens of other strong category anchor brands.

Cheez-It crackers are a testament to American snacking ingenuity. Introduced in 1921, the amazingly popular, one-inch-square, 100% real cheese snack crackers have maintained a steadfast ability to reach nearly every consumer demographic, with an inherent, near-universal appeal.

Our work in food is visceral. It's immediate. It's supremely intimate to serve a role in preparing the daily bread for people across our planet.

"In 1970, my dad and uncle opened our first restaurant," says Daniel Schwartz, president, Schwartz Brothers Bakery, Renton, WA. "Three years later, they opened a concept called The Sandwich Shop and Pie Place. They were looking to source the very best pies to serve at their restaurant, and they couldn’t find any that they liked."

Are you part of the problem, or part of the solution? If you don't automatically align with the solution end of that equation, you might want to think about your overall messaging to consumers, and to the industry overall.

The U.S. snack industry established strong roots during the first half of the 20th century. Retail channel diversification, ingenious equipment engineering, and an increasingly mobile American public hungry for snacking adventure all contributed to the boom. Upstart innovators blazed their own paths across this fertile land, rich with opportunity.

Every year poses its share of market challenges to companies operating in the snack and bakery market, a vital economic sector, which at retail alone accounts for over $100 billion in annual U.S. sales.