Country Crock

Country Crock is a United States food brand associated primarily with margarine-style and plant-based spreads used for spreading, cooking, and baking. The brand is owned by Flora Food Group. Its commercial history is connected to the Shedd's business, which originated with Shedd-Bartush Foods in Detroit. That company began producing and marketing margarine in 1945 and also operated in related grocery categories, including peanut butter, salad dressing, and prune juice. The Shedd's business later became part of Beatrice Foods through a 1959 merger and was subsequently sold to Unilever in 1984 after Beatrice had merged with Esmark. The peanut-butter operation was sold separately to Algood Food Company. Country Crock originally served as a brand for spreads, particularly margarine, and for a limited period was also used in connection with cheese. Over time, the name became strongly identified with household spread products and with the role of margarine-style products as alternatives to dairy butter. Its typical uses include spreading on bread and other prepared foods, cooking, baking, and adding richness to side dishes. The brand's positioning centers on convenience, familiar household usage, and a plant-based alternative to butter rather than on luxury or specialist culinary products. Country Crock received substantial consumer exposure in the United States through television advertising during the 1980s and 1990s. A recurring commercial format showed a married couple seated at a dinner table discussing the spread while the camera showed only their hands. The wife was voiced by Casey DeFranco and the husband by actor Jack Riley, known for playing Elliot Carlin on The Bob Newhart Show. This advertising helped establish a recognizable domestic and family-oriented identity for the brand. In July 2015, Shedd's Country Crock changed its recipe by removing preservatives and artificial flavors. The change reflected an adjustment to the product formulation and continued the brand's evolution within the spread category. The Country Crock name was also extended beyond spreads through licensed products made by Hormel, including side dishes such as mashed potatoes and pasta. These products broadened the brand's presence from a refrigerator spread into convenient prepared-food offerings while retaining its association with home-style meals. In 2022, Country Crock was named in a class-action lawsuit alleging that its labeling and advertising misled consumers. The existence of the lawsuit is documented, but the available reference material does not establish a final outcome or an adjudicated finding of wrongdoing. Country Crock remains an active food brand under Flora Food Group, with its clearest identity continuing to come from plant-based spreads and related convenience foods.

Country Crock's history is rooted in the Shedd's food business, which was established by Shedd-Bartush Foods in Detroit. The company began making and marketing margarine in 1945, placing it within the postwar expansion of packaged grocery products intended for everyday household use. Its wider portfolio included Shedd's peanut butter, salad dressing, and prune juice. This background connected the later Country Crock identity to a broader food business rather than to a standalone butter producer. In 1959, Shedd-Bartush Foods merged with Beatrice Foods. Beatrice later merged with Esmark, and the Shedd's business was sold to Unilever in 1984. The peanut-butter business was separated and sold to Algood Food Company. These corporate changes formed the ownership history behind the Shedd's and Country Crock business before its later association with Flora Food Group. Country Crock was initially used for spread products, especially margarine, and for a limited time was also associated with cheese. Its main consumer role was as a convenient spread and cooking ingredient used in ordinary household meals. The brand's identity was reinforced by a distinctive United States advertising campaign during the 1980s and 1990s. Commercials presented a married couple discussing the spread at the dinner table, with viewers seeing only their hands. Casey DeFranco supplied the wife's voice and Jack Riley supplied the husband's voice. The format made the brand part of a familiar domestic-mealtime setting. The brand later expanded beyond its original spread focus. Under license, Hormel produced Country Crock-branded prepared side dishes, including mashed potatoes and pasta. This extension placed the name in the convenience-food category and associated it with prepared accompaniments as well as refrigerator spreads. A significant formulation change occurred in July 2015, when Shedd's Country Crock removed preservatives and artificial flavors from the recipe. The change represented a product-development decision within the established spread line. In 2022, a class-action lawsuit alleged that Country Crock's labeling and advertising misled consumers. The available reference records the allegation but does not provide a final legal determination. Today, Country Crock is identified with Flora Food Group and remains an active United States food brand centered on plant-based and margarine-style spreads, with additional licensed convenience-food products.

• 2022

  Class-action lawsuit is filed

  [1]Country Crocken.wikipedia.org

  Country Crock becomes the subject of a class-action lawsuit alleging misleading labeling and advertising.

• 2015

  Recipe reformulation

  [1]Country Crocken.wikipedia.org

  Shedd's Country Crock changes its recipe to remove preservatives and artificial flavors.

• 1984

  Shedd's business is sold to Unilever

  [1]Country Crocken.wikipedia.org

  Following Beatrice's merger with Esmark, the Shedd's business is sold to Unilever.

• 1980

  Domestic-mealtime television advertising gains prominence

  [1]Country Crocken.wikipedia.org

  During the 1980s and 1990s, Country Crock commercials use a married couple's dinner-table conversation, showing only their hands.

• 1959

  Shedd-Bartush merges with Beatrice Foods

  [1]Country Crocken.wikipedia.org

  The Shedd's business becomes part of Beatrice Foods through a merger.

• 1945

  Shedd-Bartush begins margarine production

  [1]Country Crocken.wikipedia.org

  Shedd-Bartush Foods, the Detroit-based predecessor associated with the brand's history, begins making and marketing margarine.

An accessible, mainstream household spread brand emphasizing convenience, familiar cooking and spreading uses, and plant-based alternatives to dairy butter.

• Plant-based spread

  Country Crock plant-based spreads

  The brand's core product family consists of spreads designed for everyday spreading, cooking, and baking. They occupy the margarine-style and plant-based spread segment and are positioned as convenient alternatives to dairy butter. The products are associated with household meal preparation rather than specialist or premium culinary use.

• Margarine-style spread

  Country Crock margarine

  Margarine was central to the brand's original identity and to the wider Shedd's business history. Country Crock margarine-style products were developed for spreading and cooking, helping establish the brand as an everyday refrigerator staple in the United States.

• Prepared foods

  Country Crock prepared side dishes

  The Country Crock name was extended under license to prepared side dishes made by Hormel. The referenced examples include mashed potatoes and pasta. These products broadened the brand from spreads into convenient meal accompaniments while retaining an association with home-style food.

• 2022

  Class-action lawsuit over labeling and advertising

  A class-action complaint alleged that Country Crock misled consumers through its labeling and advertising. The available reference identifies the lawsuit but does not establish a final judgment or settlement outcome.

  Source

Read more

• 1980Dinner-table hands commercials

  United States

  A recurring television advertising format showed a married couple discussing Country Crock at the dinner table while only their hands were visible. Casey DeFranco voiced the wife and Jack Riley voiced the husband. The campaign connected the product with familiar family meals and domestic use.

  Outcome. The campaign became a notable part of the brand's United States advertising identity during the 1980s and 1990s.

  Source

• 2015

  Remove preservatives and artificial flavors from the recipeOther

  Background

  Shedd's Country Crock adjusted the formulation of its spread products in July 2015.

  Action taken

  The recipe was changed to remove preservatives and artificial flavors.

  Aftermath

  The reformulation became a documented product milestone; the available material does not provide measured sales or market results.

  Source

• 2015

  Country Crock changes recipe to remove preservatives and artificial flavors[1]Country Crocken.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  Shedd's Country Crock reformulated its products to remove preservatives and artificial flavors.

1. 1Country Crocken.wikipedia.org