Several major food corporations have been acquired by companies in the tobacco industry, particularly during the late 20th century when tobacco companies sought to diversify their businesses due to declining cigarette sales and increasing regulation. Here are some notable examples:
1. Kraft Foods:
• Acquired by Philip Morris (Altria) in 1988. Philip Morris, one of the largest tobacco companies in the world, purchased Kraft for $12.9 billion. Kraft was later spun off and became part of Kraft Heinz, but the acquisition marked a major expansion into the food sector by the tobacco giant.
2. Nabisco:
• Acquired by Philip Morris (Altria) in 2000. Philip Morris acquired Nabisco (maker of Oreos, Ritz crackers, and other popular snacks) as part of its merger with Kraft Foods. This acquisition added to the tobacco company’s portfolio of food brands.
3. General Foods:
• Acquired by Philip Morris (Altria) in 1985. This acquisition included major food brands like Jell-O, Maxwell House, and Kool-Aid, further expanding the tobacco giant’s influence in the food sector.
4. RJ Reynolds and Nabisco:
• RJ Reynolds, another major tobacco company, merged with Nabisco in 1985 to form RJR Nabisco. This merger brought together tobacco products and a wide array of food brands under one corporate umbrella. However, RJR Nabisco later separated, with the food side eventually being absorbed into Kraft via the Philip Morris acquisition.
These acquisitions allowed tobacco companies to diversify their revenue streams and reduce reliance on declining cigarette sales. Over time, many of these food brands were spun off or sold to other companies, but for several decades, the tobacco industry had significant ownership stakes in the food industry.
Give me a list of the exact foods that are produced by these companies
Here’s a list of notable food products from companies that were acquired by tobacco giants like Philip Morris (Altria) and RJR Nabisco. These products were owned by the tobacco industry during the periods when they controlled these food companies:
Kraft Foods (Acquired by Philip Morris in 1988):
1. Cheese and Dairy Products:
• Kraft Singles
• Philadelphia Cream Cheese
• Velveeta
2. Snacks:
• Planters Nuts
• Cheez Whiz
• Capri Sun (juice drinks)
3. Condiments:
• Kraft Mayonnaise
• Kraft Salad Dressings
• Kraft Barbecue Sauce
4. Macaroni & Cheese:
• Kraft Macaroni & Cheese (blue box)
5. Beverages:
• Maxwell House Coffee
• Kool-Aid
6. Frozen Foods:
• DiGiorno Pizza
• Tombstone Pizza
Nabisco (Acquired by Philip Morris in 2000):
1. Cookies and Crackers:
• Oreos
• Chips Ahoy!
• Ritz Crackers
• Wheat Thins
• Triscuits
2. Breakfast Cereals (through Post):
• Grape-Nuts
• Shredded Wheat
3. Snack Cakes:
• Nutter Butter
• Fig Newtons
4. Graham Crackers:
• Honey Maid Graham Crackers
General Foods (Acquired by Philip Morris in 1985):
1. Beverages:
• Maxwell House Coffee
• Sanka (decaffeinated coffee)
• Kool-Aid
• Tang (powdered drink)
2. Desserts:
• Jell-O
• Cool Whip
• Baker’s Chocolate
3. Frozen Meals:
• Bird’s Eye (frozen vegetables and meals)
4. Breakfast Products:
• Post Cereals (Raisin Bran, Grape-Nuts, etc.)
5. Snack Foods:
• Planters Nuts
RJR Nabisco (Merged in 1985, later split):
1. Snacks:
• Oreos (under Nabisco)
• Ritz Crackers
• Chips Ahoy!
2. Cookies and Crackers:
• Fig Newtons
• Premium Saltines
These food products were all under the ownership of tobacco companies during the time of their acquisitions, reflecting the diversification strategy tobacco companies employed to move into the food sector. Many of these brands have since been sold or spun off, but they were once part of portfolios owned by tobacco giants like Philip Morris and RJR Nabisco.