Sunshine Biscuits facts for kids
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Sunshine Biscuits at Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
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| Public | |
| Industry | Food processing |
| Fate | Acquired |
| Successor | Keebler/Kellogg's |
| Founded | Kansas City, Missouri (1902, as Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company) |
| Founders | Joseph Loose Jacob Loose John H. Wiles |
| Defunct | 1996 |
| Headquarters | , |
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Area served
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Nationwide |
| Products | Snacks |
| Parent | Keebler Company (Ferrero SpA) |
Sunshine Biscuits was a well-known American company. They made delicious cookies, crackers, and cereals. The company was first called The Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company.
In 1996, another company called Keebler Company bought Sunshine Biscuits. Then, in 2001, Kellogg Company bought Keebler. Sunshine Biscuits became a brand under Keebler and Kellogg's. Before it was bought, Sunshine Biscuits was the third largest cookie maker in the United States. Its main office was in Elmhurst, Illinois.
Contents
History of Sunshine Biscuits
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| Owner | Kellogg Company (Keebler Company) |
|---|---|
| Country | U.S. |
| Introduced | 1902 |
| Related brands | Keebler |
| Markets | Nationwide |
A long time ago, in the late 1800s, most cookie and cracker companies were small. They baked products locally and sold them in big barrels or crates. Grocery stores would then sell these items by weight to customers.
How Big Bakeries Started
In 1890, many small bakeries in the Midwest and West joined together. They formed a large company called the American Biscuit & Manufacturing Company. This was to compete with other big groups like United States Baking Company and New York Biscuit Company. These large companies started opening bakeries in each other's areas. They also lowered prices to try and win over customers.
Finally, in 1898, these competing groups decided to combine. They brought together 114 factories. This created a huge company called the National Biscuit Company, or Nabisco.
The Start of Loose-Wiles
Joseph Loose was on the board of directors for Nabisco. But in 1902, he, his brother Jacob Loose, and John H. Wiles left Nabisco. They started their own company, the Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company. This new company began in Kansas City, Missouri.
They wanted their factory to be bright and full of natural light. So, they chose the name "Sunshine" for their products. Soon, they built new factories in Boston and New York City.
The "Thousand Window" Bakery
In 1912, Loose-Wiles opened a very special bakery. It was in the Long Island City area of New York City. This bakery was known as the "Thousand Window" bakery because it had so many windows. It was the biggest bakery building in the world until 1955. The company closed this factory in 1965. Production then moved to Sayreville, New Jersey.
Becoming Sunshine Biscuit, Inc.
For many years, Loose-Wiles did not officially register the "Sunshine" name. This meant other companies sometimes used the word "sunshine" for their products. Loose-Wiles had to work hard to protect their name. They often had to check who used the word first.
Finally, in 1946, the Loose-Wiles Company officially changed its name. It became Sunshine Biscuit, Inc.
Competing with Nabisco
In its early years, Sunshine Biscuits focused on creating new products. They also bought popular brands from smaller companies. Many of their products were similar to those made by their biggest rival, Nabisco. For example, Nabisco had a cracker called "Uneeda." Loose-Wiles made one called "Takhoma." Nabisco made "Aces" cookies, and Sunshine made "Trumps Cookies." Both companies also made different kinds of Animal Crackers.
Later Ownership Changes
In 1966, the American Tobacco Company bought Sunshine Biscuits. Later, it was sold to G. F. Industries. Finally, in 1996, Sunshine Biscuits joined with the Keebler Company.
Popular Products
Sunshine Biscuits made many famous snacks. One of their well-known products was the Hydrox chocolate sandwich cream cookie. Hydrox cookies were stopped in 1999 but came back in 2015. Now, Leaf Brands makes them.
Sunshine is most famous for its Cheez-It snack crackers. These are still very popular today.
Past and Present Products
After the company joined with Keebler, some Sunshine products were stopped. These included Chip-A-Roos, Chocolate Nugget cookies, and Lemon Coolers. Sunshine also created Vienna Fingers cookies, which are now sold under the Keebler brand.
Some products that are still available under the Sunshine brand or were recently made include:
- Cheez-It snack crackers
- Krispy saltine crackers
- Krispy Soup & Oyster crackers
- Nut Sundae Cookies
Some products that were once made by Sunshine Biscuits but are now made by other companies or are no longer available include:
- Hydrox chocolate sandwich cookies (now by Leaf Brands)
- Lemon Coolers cookies (trademarked by Texan Foods LLC)
- Yum Yums coconut caramel cookies (trademarked by Texan Foods LLC)
- Hi Ho Crackers (trademarked by Texan Foods LLC)
- Sunshine Nut Sundaes marshmallow cookies
- American Heritage snack crackers
- Cherry Coolers
- Fig Bars (different from Fig Newtons)
- International Snacks (sandwich cookies with two flavors of cream)
- Shredded Wheat cereal (made in New Jersey for the eastern U.S.)
