Wonder Bread facts for kids
The original logo that was used from 1988 to 2005
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| Owner | Flowers Foods |
|---|---|
| Introduced | May 21, 1921 |
| Markets | United States |
| Previous owners | Taggart Baking Company (1921–1925) Continental Baking Company (1925–1995) Interstate Bakeries Corporation (1995–2012) |
Wonder Bread is a famous American brand of sliced bread. It started in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1921. By 1930, it was one of the first companies to sell sliced bread all across the country. Today, Flowers Foods owns the brand in the United States.
Contents
The Story of Wonder Bread
How Wonder Bread Began
Wonder Bread first appeared on May 21, 1921. It was made by the Taggart Baking Company in Indianapolis, Indiana. Before it launched, there were mysterious ads saying a "Wonder" was coming.
The brand's name came from Elmer Cline, who worked for the company. He was inspired by the International Balloon Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He felt "wonder" watching hundreds of colorful balloons. This led to the red, yellow, and blue balloons on the Wonder Bread logo. A commercial artist named Drew Miller designed the logo.
Becoming a National Favorite
In 1925, Continental Baking Company bought Taggart. This helped Wonder Bread become a national brand. They added "It's Slo Baked" to the logo.
In the 1930s, Wonder Bread started selling pre-sliced bread nationwide. This was a big deal for the food industry. At first, people worried that sliced bread would dry out too fast. But Wonder Bread helped show them it wouldn't.
During World War II, bread slicing stopped for a short time in 1943. This was due to wartime rules. But bread slicers returned just two months later.
Adding Vitamins and Nutrients
In the 1940s, Continental Baking started adding vitamins and minerals to Wonder Bread. This was part of a government plan to make white bread healthier. White bread often lacked important nutrients.
Wonder Bread was also the first national bread brand to show "open dating" and nutrition facts on its package. This helped people know how fresh their bread was and what was in it.
In the 1950s, Wonder Bread advertised its added nutrients even more. They sponsored the TV show Howdy Doody. The host, Buffalo Bob Smith, would tell viewers, "Wonder Bread builds strong bodies 8 ways!" This referred to the eight nutrients added. By the 1960s, the slogan changed to "Helps build strong bodies 12 ways."
Changes and New Products
In 1986, Wonder Light bread was introduced. This was a lower-calorie option.
Later, in 1995, Interstate Bakeries Corporation bought Continental Baking. This company later became Hostess Brands. In 2004, Interstate Bakeries faced financial trouble. But by 2009, they came out of bankruptcy.
In 2006, Wonder Bread was one of the first brands to offer whole grain white breads. These breads used a special kind of wheat. It tasted like white bread but had the benefits of whole grains.
In 2007, Wonder Bread stopped making bread in Southern California for a while. This was because people there preferred other types of bread. But by 2009, Wonder Bread returned to stores in Southern California. Many customers had asked for it to come back.
In 2009, Wonder Classic bread was improved. It now had more calcium and vitamin D. Two slices gave you 30% of your daily calcium, like a glass of milk.
In 2010, Wonder Smartwhite was launched. It had the taste and soft feel of white bread. But it also had the fiber of 100% whole wheat bread.
In 2011, Wonder Bread started a new national ad campaign called "Always Wonder."
A New Owner for Wonder Bread
In 2012, Hostess Brands (the company that owned Wonder Bread at the time) had to close its business. This meant Wonder Bread stopped being made for a short time in the United States.
However, Flowers Foods stepped in. Flowers Foods owns other popular brands like Mrs. Freshley's and Dave's Killer Bread. In 2013, Flowers Foods bought Wonder Bread and other brands from Hostess.
On September 23, 2013, Wonder Bread returned to store shelves in the U.S.
Wonder Bread Around the World
Mexico
In Mexico, Grupo Bimbo makes Wonder Bread. Grupo Bimbo is the largest baking company in the world. They bought the rights to the brand in Mexico in 1986.
Canada
Wonder Bread in Canada is a separate brand from the U.S. one. It first appeared in Canadian stores and homes around 1927 in Montreal. In 1928, the "Wonder" trademark was registered in Canada.
By 1930, Wonder Bread was available in Toronto. Ads called it "delicious Wonder Bread." It was made from unbleached flour and "Slo-Baked." People said it made "more slices and thinner slices" without crumbling. By 1934, "Sliced Wonder" was sold with "no fewer than 26 slices in a loaf."
Over the years, different companies made Wonder Bread in Canada. In 1985, Weston Bakeries Limited bought the rights to Wonder in Canada.
Between 2000 and 2022, Weston Foods added new Wonder products. Many of these focused on children's nutrition. In 2011, Weston Bakeries announced that its Wonder Bread would no longer have artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors.
In 2022, Weston Foods sold the brand to FGF Brands. Now, it operates as Wonder Brands Incorporated.
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