Editor’s Note: As of 2023, we could find no American toothpicks left either made in Maine, or anywhere else. Please let us know in comments if one knows of a new manufacturer. WEST PARIS, MAINE – There is something very American about toothpicks, and a great, American-made brand is Penley.MORE HERE
At first sight, it seems that our choices for American-made brands are decreasing. Just two big beer brewers, three big cereal companies, and four large laundry detergent makers. Small laundry detergent brands seem to be the most challenged. How can small and local brands survive and even flourish against aMORE HERE
GODALMING, Surrey, England – Perhaps the National Portrait Gallery in London might want to get an old picture out of Maj. James Abbott, for whom the town of Abbottabad in Pakistan is named. Abbottabad, is of course, the town where Bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan. Worldwide attention has beenMORE HERE
Rise Shaving Cream, once a household name, has returned to the shelves as a discount brand. The brand, once a product of Carter-Wallace, is now made by Rise International Group of Lodi, New Jersey. Rise also sells Pears in the U.S. market. Pears is one of the world’s oldest brands,MORE HERE
NEW YORK – Does anyone else think it odd that 60 Minutes, the flagship, iconic banner of CBS News, would be seen on CNBC, even in reruns? Here is the description on the CNBC site: ABOUT THE SHOW: “60 Minutes on CNBC” takes you a step further into hard hittingMORE HERE
There are many well-known religious publishing brands, both denominational and for-profit. Thomas Nelson and Zondervan are some of the best-known among the for-profits. Zondervan’s sister imprint HarperOne continues a long tradition of religious publishing at the old Harper & Row. Of the strong denominational publishing brands are Abingdon Press andMORE HERE
Does the real sugar Coke taste better than your local bottler’s version? Mexican Coke has sugar, though not all Coca-Cola sold in Mexico has sugar. It was originally sold in the U.S. for Mexican expats, but grew and is now sold across the country as a specialty item. The U.S.MORE HERE
DALLAS – American Airlines is spinning off its American Eagle subsidiary. Last year, American tried to sell their commuter carrier, but has not been able to do it. The Financial Times reports that AA pilots are against the deal, fearing that it will only lead to lower salaries. American isMORE HERE
RUTHERFORD, California – Inglenook’s vineyards and brand are now one again. Movie and winemaker Francis Ford Coppola has purchased the storied California brand Inglenook to go with his farm in Rutherford, California. Coppola purchased the farm, but the brand was separated from the actual land in the 1970s. The InglenookMORE HERE
The nation once had many regional pet food brands. In my native Northern Neck, we had Huff n Puff, which was a cat food made in Reedville from the waste from that town’s menhaden haulers. Another familiar brand is Twin Pet, which still survives as a discount brand at Wal-Mart.MORE HERE