Nabisco
An American snack-food brand associated with Oreo, Chips Ahoy!, Ritz, Triscuit, and other cookies and crackers.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Nabisco is an American cookies and snack-food brand whose corporate identity originated with the National Biscuit Company, formed in 1898 through the consolidation of several regional bakeries. The company developed a broad portfolio of biscuits, crackers, wafers, and other packaged foods and helped establish the modern branded-snack business through standardized production, national distribution, distinctive packaging, and mass-market advertising. The company’s roots extend to nineteenth-century American bakeries, including Pearson & Sons Bakery, founded in Massachusetts in 1792, and the New York Biscuit Company, established after William H. Moore consolidated several bakeries in 1889. Adolphus Green organized the American Biscuit and Manufacturing Company in 1890. In 1898, Moore, Green, and John Gottlieb Zeller combined their interests to create the National Biscuit Company, with Green as its first president. The company opened offices in Chicago’s Home Insurance Building, an early skyscraper, and expanded through additional acquisitions and manufacturing investments. Nabisco introduced or acquired a succession of products that became durable American grocery brands. Barnum’s Animal Crackers appeared in 1902, while Oreos, Cameos, Lorna Doones, Nabisco Wafers, Fig Newtons, and Famous Chocolate Wafers followed during the early twentieth century. In the 1920s, the company developed individually sealed snack packets that could be sold through soda fountains, lunch counters, newsstands, and roadside outlets. The abbreviation NAB was adopted in commercial use during that period, and “nabs” later became a generic regional term for snack crackers in parts of the southern United States. Nabisco’s corporate structure changed repeatedly. It acquired the Shredded Wheat Company and Toronto-based Christie, Brown & Company in 1928 and F.H. Bennett, the maker of Milk-Bone, in 1931. The corporate name became Nabisco in 1971. A 1981 merger with Standard Brands created Nabisco Brands, which combined with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in 1985 to form RJR Nabisco. The company became the subject of one of the most prominent leveraged buyouts of the 1980s when Kohlberg Kravis Roberts acquired RJR Nabisco in 1989. During the following decade, the business sold or transferred numerous divisions and brands while reducing debt and reshaping its portfolio. In 2000, Philip Morris Companies acquired Nabisco and combined it with Kraft Foods. Kraft later separated its grocery and snack operations; in 2012, the snack business became Mondelēz International. Nabisco consequently became a Mondelēz brand rather than an independent publicly traded company. Today, Nabisco remains principally associated with cookies and crackers sold in North America and selected international markets. Major products include Oreo, Chips Ahoy!, Ritz, Triscuit, Wheat Thins, Fig Newtons, BelVita, Teddy Grahams, and other snack lines. In Canada, Nabisco cookie and cracker products have historically been sold under the Christie name. Production has included large-scale bakeries such as the Chicago facility, while the brand’s manufacturing footprint and employment have changed through plant closures, labor negotiations, and Mondelēz’s broader operating strategy.
History
Nabisco’s history combines early American bakery consolidation, national brand building, repeated corporate mergers, and later integration into Mondelēz International. Pearson & Sons Bakery began in Massachusetts in 1792 and produced pilot bread for long sea voyages. William H. Moore later acquired Pearson & Sons, Josiah Bent Bakery, and other operations, creating the New York Biscuit Company in 1889. In Chicago, Adolphus Green organized the American Biscuit and Manufacturing Company in 1890 after acquiring approximately forty bakeries. The New York and American businesses, together with John Gottlieb Zeller’s Richmond Steam Bakery interests, merged in 1898 to form the National Biscuit Company. Green became president. The company established corporate offices in Chicago’s Home Insurance Building and built a national presence through large-scale production, distribution, and packaged products. The Nabisco name first appeared on a cracker brand in 1901. Barnum’s Animal Crackers followed in 1902, and the company later introduced or developed Fig Newtons, Nabisco Wafers, Anola Wafers, Cameos, Lorna Doones, Oreos, and Famous Chocolate Wafers. In 1924, National Biscuit Company introduced sealed Peanut Sandwich Packets and later Sorbetto Sandwich Packets. These products were designed for distribution through nontraditional snack outlets, including soda fountains, road stands, lunchrooms, and newsstands. The abbreviation NAB entered use in 1928. The company acquired the Shredded Wheat Company, maker of Triscuit and Shredded Wheat, and Christie, Brown & Company of Toronto in 1928. It acquired F.H. Bennett, whose portfolio included Milk-Bone dog biscuits, in 1931. Nabisco celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 1948 and adopted Nabisco as its corporate name in 1971. The 1970s and 1980s brought diversification and major structural changes. Nabisco acquired J. B. Williams in 1971 and merged with Standard Brands in 1981, creating Nabisco Brands. Standard Brands added businesses such as Planters, Royal, Fleischmann’s, Blue Bonnet, and other food and consumer products. In 1985, Nabisco Brands merged with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company to form RJR Nabisco. After several difficult years, RJR Nabisco was acquired by KKR in 1989 in a highly publicized leveraged buyout later documented in the book and film Barbarians at the Gate. RJR Nabisco subsequently sold numerous businesses to reduce debt and concentrate its portfolio. Divestitures included Chun King, South American Del Monte operations, Curtiss Candy, European biscuit brands, and various margarine, gelatin, broth, cereal, and Mexican-food businesses. In 2000, Philip Morris Companies acquired Nabisco and combined it with Kraft Foods. Kraft later separated its businesses, with the snack-food operation becoming Mondelēz International in 2012. Nabisco has remained within Mondelēz’s snack portfolio. The modern brand is best known for cookies and crackers, particularly Oreo, Chips Ahoy!, Ritz, Triscuit, Wheat Thins, Fig Newtons, BelVita, and Teddy Grahams. Its products have been made in large facilities, including the Chicago bakery described as one of the world’s largest. The brand has also experienced operational and labor changes. Mondelēz’s 2021 decision to close the Fair Lawn plant affected roughly 600 employees, and a 2021 strike involving more than 1,000 bakery and distribution workers reflected disputes over a new labor agreement. In Canada, Nabisco products are generally marketed under the Christie name, preserving the identity of the Canadian bakery business acquired in 1928.
- 2021
Fair Lawn plant closure and labor strike
[1]Mondelēz announced the Fair Lawn closure, while workers at several U.S. facilities conducted a strike over contract terms.
- 2012
Nabisco becomes part of Mondelēz
[1]Kraft Foods separated its snack-food business, which became Mondelēz International and retained Nabisco in its portfolio.
- 2000
Philip Morris acquires Nabisco
[1]Philip Morris acquired Nabisco and combined it with Kraft Foods, subject to regulatory divestitures.
- 1989
KKR acquires RJR Nabisco
[1]The acquisition became a landmark leveraged buyout in corporate and financial history.
- 1985
RJR Nabisco is formed
[1]Nabisco Brands merged with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.
- 1981
Merger with Standard Brands
[1]The merger created Nabisco Brands and added several food and consumer-product businesses.
- 1971
Nabisco becomes the corporate name
[1]The shortened Nabisco name replaced National Biscuit Company as the corporate identity.
- 1928
Nabisco expands through major acquisitions
[1]The company acquired the Shredded Wheat Company and Christie, Brown & Company of Toronto.
- 1912
Oreos introduced
[1]Nabisco introduced the Oreo sandwich cookie, which later became its most internationally recognizable product brand.
- 1902
Barnum’s Animal Crackers introduced
[1]The animal-themed cracker line became one of the company’s enduring packaged snack products.
Products and positioning
Mass-market packaged cookies, crackers, and snack foods with strong household-name brands and broad retail distribution.
Sandwich cookie · 1912
Oreo
Introduced in 1912, Oreo is a chocolate sandwich cookie with a sweet creme filling. It became Nabisco’s signature product and one of the world’s most widely recognized cookie brands, with market-specific formats and flavors sold across numerous countries.
Chocolate-chip cookie
Chips Ahoy!
Chips Ahoy! is a packaged chocolate-chip cookie line positioned as a mainstream everyday snack. Its portfolio has included multiple textures and variations while retaining the core chocolate-chip format associated with the Nabisco cookie business.
Cracker
Ritz
Ritz is a round, lightly salted cracker brand used both as a standalone snack and as an accompaniment to spreads, cheese, and prepared foods. It became part of the Nabisco portfolio through the broader Standard Brands and subsequent corporate structures.
Shredded-wheat cracker
Triscuit
Triscuit is a woven, shredded-wheat cracker acquired with the Shredded Wheat Company in 1928. The product is commonly marketed as a savory snack and as a base for toppings.
Wheat cracker
Wheat Thins
Wheat Thins is a thin, crisp wheat-cracker line sold as a snack and commonly paired with dips, cheese, or other toppings. It is part of Nabisco’s mainstream cracker portfolio.
Filled cookie
Fig Newtons
Fig Newtons are soft baked cookies with a fig-based filling. The line is one of Nabisco’s long-running fruit-filled snack products and has been marketed in multiple package formats.
Cracker · 1902
Barnum’s Animal Crackers
Introduced in 1902, Barnum’s Animal Crackers are small animal-shaped crackers traditionally sold in a distinctive circus-themed package. The product is a longstanding example of Nabisco’s use of themed packaging and child-oriented branding.
Breakfast biscuit
BelVita
BelVita is a breakfast-biscuit line marketed for convenient morning consumption. It extends Nabisco’s business beyond traditional cookies and crackers into portioned, packaged baked snacks.
Chocolate wafer · 1924
Famous Chocolate Wafers
Famous Chocolate Wafers were thin chocolate wafers introduced in 1924 and used both as a snack and as an ingredient in desserts. The product was discontinued in 2023.
Controversies
2019
Mondelēz recalls limited quantity of Cheese Nips
Mondelēz Global LLC announced a voluntary recall of a limited quantity of Cheese Nips 11 oz. boxes in the United States because of the potential presence of small food-grade yellow plastic pieces from a dough scraper. The company said no injuries or illnesses had been reported to date.
1988
RJR Nabisco leveraged-buyout controversy
The contest for control of RJR Nabisco became a widely discussed corporate-governance and executive-compensation controversy. F. Ross Johnson’s management proposal competed with KKR’s offer, and public criticism focused on the scale of the transaction, takeover incentives, financing, and executive compensation. The episode was later popularized by Barbarians at the Gate.
Marketing campaigns
- 2010Oreo and Ritz NASCAR sponsorships
United States
Nabisco promoted Oreo and Ritz through sponsorship of NASCAR drivers and races, including events at Daytona International Speedway.
Outcome. Brand exposure was integrated into race sponsorships.
- 2002Nabisco and Kraft motorsport sponsorship
United States
Nabisco and Kraft sponsored Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Roush Racing, using brands including Oreo and Ritz in NASCAR-related promotional activity.
Outcome. The sponsorship continued through 2005.
- 1997Planters Deluxe Mixed Nuts health comparison advertising
United States
A campaign compared the nutritional profile of Planters peanuts with other snack foods. The National Advertising Division requested more prominent fat-content disclosure, and Nabisco agreed to modify future commercials.
Outcome. Advertising disclosures were made more conspicuous.
Brand decisions
2021
Close the Fair Lawn plantStrategyBackground
Mondelēz reviewed its manufacturing footprint and decided to end operations at the Fair Lawn facility.
Action taken
The plant was scheduled for closure after approximately 63 years of operation.
Aftermath
Approximately 600 employees faced transfer, retirement, or separation, and the decision contributed to labor tensions elsewhere in the U.S. network.
2012
Separate Kraft’s snack-food businessStrategyBackground
Kraft Foods decided to separate its grocery operations from its global snack-food activities.
Action taken
The snack-food business was established as Mondelēz International, with Nabisco included in its portfolio.
Aftermath
Nabisco continued as a brand within Mondelēz rather than as an independent company.
2000
Acquire Nabisco and combine it with KraftM&ABackground
Philip Morris sought to expand its packaged-food operations.
Action taken
Philip Morris acquired Nabisco and merged it with Kraft Foods, with regulatory divestitures required in several product categories.
Aftermath
Nabisco became part of Kraft’s food portfolio and later moved into Mondelēz International when Kraft separated its snack business.
Acquisition value. Approximately $19.2 billion (2000)
1985
Combine with R.J. ReynoldsM&ABackground
Nabisco Brands and R.J. Reynolds pursued a major corporate combination.
Action taken
The companies merged to create RJR Nabisco.
Aftermath
The company later became the target of a landmark leveraged buyout by KKR.
1981
Merge with Standard BrandsM&ABackground
Nabisco sought greater scale and a broader consumer-food portfolio.
Action taken
The companies combined to form Nabisco Brands.
Aftermath
The combination added brands including Planters, Royal, Fleischmann’s, and Blue Bonnet before the later RJR Nabisco structure.
Recent events
NABISCO announces Team USA sponsorship[5]
Reported:
NABISCO announced that it is the Official Cookie and Cracker sponsor of Team USA for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, with a fan-facing effort planned for the summer.
NABISCO announces limited-edition Team USA cookies[5]
Reported:
NABISCO announced that OREO and Chips Ahoy! would launch limited-edition Team USA cookies, planned to be available starting June 14 wherever NABISCO products are sold, for a limited time and while supplies last.
Mondelēz recalls limited quantity of Cheese Nips[3]
Mondelēz Global LLC announced a voluntary recall of a limited quantity of Cheese Nips 11 oz. boxes in the United States because of the potential presence of small food-grade yellow plastic pieces from a dough scraper. The company said no injuries or illnesses had been reported to date.
Sources5 sources
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