Kraft Foods
began as small cheese business over 100 years ago.
Kraft Foods Company, which has expanded to become the second-largest food company in the world, originated as a one-man cheese business in Chicago, Illinois, in the early 1900s.
Founder
James L. Kraft was born on December 11, 1874, in Ontario, Canada. In 1903 Kraft began selling cheese to local grocers in the city of Chicago. He saw his company through several mergers and expansions before he died of surgical complications in 1953.
Significance
Kraft eventually developed and patented a method of pasteurizing cheese that allowed it a long enough shelf life for greater distribution. Although it angered some cheese manufacturers who argued that Kraft was "killing" the cheese, the process changed the dairy industry for good.
Growth
The Kraft Food Company now encompasses over 65 brands and exceeds $40 billion in revenue annually. Although the company still maintains offices and plants in Chicago, it has now expanded globally with locations in over 30 countries.
Tags: cheese business, Kraft Foods