Folgers facts for kids
 |
|
| Type | Coffee |
|---|---|
| Owner | The J.M. Smucker Company |
| Country | United States |
| Introduced | 1850 |
| Related brands |
|
| Markets | North America |
| Previous owners | Procter & Gamble (1963–2008) |
| Tagline | "The Best Part of Wakin' Up is Folgers in Your Cup" |
Folgers is a well-known American coffee brand. You can find Folgers coffee in the United States, and also in places like Asia, Canada, and Mexico. It's part of The J.M. Smucker Company, which makes many food and drink products. Folgers coffee is roasted in New Orleans.
Contents
The Story of Folgers Coffee
How Folgers Started
The company that became Folgers Coffee began in 1850 in San Francisco, California. It was first called Pioneer Steam Coffee and Spice Mills. Before this, people in California had to buy green coffee beans. They would roast and grind the beans themselves at home. The first owner, William H. Bovee, saw a chance to make coffee ready to brew.
Bovee hired a 15-year-old carpenter named J. A. Folger. Folger helped build the mill. He had come from Nantucket Island with his brothers during the California Gold Rush. In the 1850s, kerosene became cheaper than whale oil. Whale oil was Nantucket's main business. Many Nantucket ships then started bringing coffee from South America to San Francisco.
Folger Joins the Business
After working at Bovee's mill for almost a year, Folger saved enough money. He bought a part of the company. Then he went to mine for gold. He also carried coffee and spice samples. He took orders from grocery stores along his way.
When he returned to San Francisco in 1865, Folger became a full partner. In 1872, he bought out the other partners. He then changed the company's name to J.A. Folger & Co.
Growing the Family Business
In 1861, James Folger got married. He and his wife had four children. Two of their children worked for the family business. James Folger passed away in 1889. His oldest son, James A. Folger II, became president at age 26.
In the 1900s, the company started to grow a lot. This was thanks to a salesman named Frank P. Atha. Atha sold coffee in California. He suggested to James Folger II that he open a Folgers Coffee plant in Texas. The company grew very quickly after the Texas plant opened.
Folgers Becomes a Big Brand
In the mid-20th century, Peter Folger led the company. Folgers became one of the biggest coffee brands in North America. In 1960, a new Folger Coffee Company plant was built in New Orleans. This was because of new shipping routes from Central America.
Procter & Gamble bought Folgers in 1963. They also removed the apostrophe from its name. While Procter & Gamble owned it, Folgers became the number one coffee brand in America.
In 2008, Procter & Gamble announced that Folgers would be sold. By the end of 2008, The J.M. Smucker Company bought Folgers. Smucker purchased Folgers in November 2008. Folgers then became a part of Smucker's. Its products are now a leader in the coffee market for homes.
Folgers Coffee Products
Folgers uses specific colors for its brand. Its logo traditionally has a dark red background with white letters. White or gray letters are still used. A green background means it's decaf coffee. A black background shows their Noir dark roast.
Here are some Folgers products you can find in the United States:
- Ground coffee in cans:
- 100% Colombian (medium roast)
- Black Silk (dark roast), also available without caffeine
- Brazilian blend (medium roast)
- Breakfast blend (mild roast)
- Classic roast (medium roast), also in decaf and half caff
- Coffeehouse blend (medium-dark roast)
- Country roast (medium-dark roast)
- French roast (medium-dark roast)
- Gourmet Supreme (medium-dark roast)
- House blend (medium roast)
- Special roast (medium roast)
- Folgers Noir, a group of dark roast coffees
- Simply Smooth, a mild roast coffee that is easier on the stomach, also in decaf
- Simply Gourmet, naturally flavored coffees
- Folgers Flavors, French vanilla and hazelnut flavored coffees, also decaf hazelnut
- Folgers Crystals, instant coffee that comes in regular and decaf
- Coffee Singles, single-serve packets
- Cappuccino instant mixes
- K-cup pods in different roasts and flavors
- 1850, a special brand launched in 2018
In Canada, you can mostly find Folgers Classic Roast and Mountain Roast. In the United Kingdom, Folgers Instant Crystals are available.
Folgers Advertising and Slogans
Folgers is famous for its slogan: "The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup!" This slogan is well-known for a jingle. The jingle has been in almost every advertisement since 1984. Many famous musicians have sung it. These include Richie Havens, Randy Travis, Bonnie Tyler, Paul Stanley, Aretha Franklin, and Rockapella.
From 1965 to 1986, Folgers was known for TV ads with "Mrs. Olson." She was a Swedish neighbor played by Virginia Christine. She always suggested Folgers coffee to the people in the commercials.
In the 1970s and early 1980s, Folgers promoted its instant coffee. Ads would show fancy restaurants. A voice would whisper that they had secretly switched the restaurant's coffee with Folgers. They would then watch to see if customers noticed.
One Folgers TV ad from 1985 was called "Peter Comes Home For Christmas." It became very popular during the Christmas holidays. A college student comes home, seemingly on Christmas Day. His younger sister helps him make Folgers coffee. The smell of fresh coffee wakes up his parents. This lets them know their son has arrived. This ad aired every year until 1998. It was shown again in edited form in 2004 and 2005.
In the mid-1980s, Folgers became a sponsor for NASCAR racing.
In 2006, an ad agency created a popular online ad called "Happy Mornings." In this ad, a big group of happy singers and dancers appear. They look like the sun itself to wake people up.
In 2009, a holiday ad called "Coming Home" was made. It showed a person reuniting with their sibling at their parents' home.
In 2014, the brand celebrated the 30th anniversary of its famous jingle.
Folgers Building
The Folger Coffee Company Building is a brick, five-story building. It is located at 101 Howard Street in San Francisco, California. This building used to be the main office for Folgers. It is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. The building still has a sign that says "The Folgers Coffee Company" on one corner.
On August 2, 2011, the University of San Francisco bought the Folger Building. This brought the university back to its roots in downtown San Francisco.
|
See also
In Spanish: Folgers para niños
