Garland Pollard is publisher/editor of BrandlandUSA. Since 2006, the website BrandlandUSA.com has chronicled the history and business of America’s great brands. He has decades of experience across all media, including newspapers, TV, radio, magazines and the web.
This spring, JCPenney unveiled a new shopping position. “Shopping is Back.” The company used a fictional character named Penny James, or “Ms. James,” to sell the slogan. She is played by Melissa Villaseñor, a comedienne and current cast member of Saturday Night Live. In the campaign, Ms. James samples theMORE HERE
MIAMI – It has been now 50 years since entrepreneur Al Copeland of New Orleans created Popeyes in the New Orleans suburb of Arabi. The Louisana-born chain was one of the many Southern chains inspired by the success of Kentucky Friend Chicken, and opened June 12, 1972, as Chicken onMORE HERE
SEATTLE – On Oct. 15, 2022, exactly 150 years to the date of the departure of the first Rotterdam’s maiden voyage, the newest Rotterdam of the Holland America Line will recreate the company’s early sailing. MORE HERE
KANSAS CITY – Among the family owned businesses that thrive in niche markets is Colonial Patterns, maker of Aunt Martha’s sewing transfers. Still family owned, they are in most major national retailers, including Walmart, Michaels and Hobby Lobby. Like the brands Coats & Clark thread, Wrights trimmings and The companyMORE HERE
Occasionally, it is helpful to look at newer regional and national brands. One such standout is Hoboken Farms, which got its start in 1992 when founder Brad Finkel began selling at farmers markets in the New York area. Today, the company operages out of 30 or so markets across NewMORE HERE
It has now been just over two years since Land O’ Lakes announced the removal of its Indian maiden logo. The move turned the what was a grand symbol of American agriculture into a minimalist red O-hole. Dairy sales are down since the decision, though to be fair it shouldMORE HERE
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA – Many well-known brand leaders in food categories have degraded ingredients and changed formulas, leaving openings for newcomers. Enter Good Culture cottage cheese. For cottage cheese fans, store offerings in recent decades had become cheapened; not only dripping in a goop of watery liquid, but bland and milky.MORE HERE
The last time Americans saw mass shortages of multiple products at retailers was World War II, when U.S. manufacturers concentrated on munitions and war production. Consumers saw the result of a command economy firsthand, as ration books became the second currency of the land. The idea of having nothing toMORE HERE
In the last decade, the owners of the Nabisco brand have played with the idea of taking the familiar red corner off of their packaging. This is unfortunate, as the Nabisco name is one of the nation’s best known, and best-trusted grocery brands. And the red corner is as wellMORE HERE
Kraft Old English spread is one of a number of jarred, shelf stable cheese products sold by Kraft. Other varieties include pimento and roka.MORE HERE