The Food That Built America is an American nonfiction docudrama series for the History Channel, that premiered on August 11, 2019. Each episode outlines the development of a popular type of food or restaurant in the United States, typically focusing on the rise of two major companies that become rivals. Historical events in the relevant timelines are re-enacted for dramatic effect and interspersed with commentary by culinary historians, business experts, and food enthusiasts.[3][4]
The series was first announced in March 2019. The first season premiered on August 11, 2019, and ran for three episodes until August 13. In May 2020, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on February 9, 2021, and ran for 16 episodes. The third season premiered on February 27, 2022, and consisted of 12 episodes. The fourth season premiered on February 19, 2023, and consisted of 16 episodes.
It is the fourth installment of the That Built franchise.
Before they become brand names, budding innovators like Henry Heinz, John and Will Kellogg, and C.W. Post push the limits of ingenuity to launch business that will revolutionize industry, and change the landscape of the nation forever.
A trailblazer named Milton Hershey bets big on a revolutionary idea, and then a father and son duo named Mars start on a path to challenge the chocolate throne. Plus, the titans of food weather the storm of the First World War and push the boundaries of invention in the Roaring Twenties.
WWII sees competing industrial empires joining the war effort in a united front to fuel the forces fighting abroad. In Post-War America, visionaries like Harland Sanders, the McDonald brothers and Ray Kroc battle to revolutionize the restaurant industry, and pave the way for the golden age of the American dream.
Two sets of Irish-American brothers, the Carney brothers in Kansas and the Monaghan brothers in Michigan created the rival pizza restaurant chains in America that became the largest chains in the world, Pizza Hut and Domino's Pizza respectively.
James L. Kraft tackles the problem of preserving cheese, developing the first processed cheese. In order to save their company during Prohibition, the Pabst brothers introduce a shelf-stable cheese of their own.
Cookies and crackers arrive on the market as Nabisco and Sunshine Biscuits battle for biscuit supremacy, introducing Hydrox and Oreo cookies among other favorites.
Gilbert Swanson's creation of the TV dinner to use excess frozen turkey while restaurateur Vernon Stouffer's creation of the TV dinner to harness new technology - the microwave.
Herman Lay introduces the first flavored potato chip and steers the merger between Frito-Lay and PepsiCo. At Procter & Gamble, a chemist sets out to develop the perfect potato chip and comes up with Pringles.
The birth and growth of the American Chicle and Wrigley in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and the development of the chewing gum industry is dramatized.
By the 1970s, large food conglomerates such as Nabisco and Keebler had dominated the low cost store-bought cookie market for decades, but none of those cookies had that at-home taste that people crave and willing to pay more money for higher-quality better-tasting cookies. That all changed when entrepreneurs Debbi Fields and Wally Amos respectively created the Mrs. Fields and Famous Amos brands of gourmet chocolate chip cookies.
A rising star at KFC, Dave Thomas, comes up with some of the most iconic items of the chicken chain's history, such as the red and white bucket. Then, he decides to go off on his own and create Wendy's.
While Orville Redenbacher spends decades perfecting the popcorn kernel, Frederick Mennen develops a better way to pop popcorn in Jiffy Pop. Meanwhile, General Mills enters the popcorn wars with microwave popcorn Pop Secret
Glen Bell tries to go beyond the hamburger in creating Taco Bell. At the same time, Forrest and Leroy Raffel work on finding a non-burger concept to take on McDonald's, which ultimately introduces Arby's to the world of fast food.
In New York, two men each come up with a separate and vastly different idea that turns into one of the biggest chain restaurants in America - Benihana and TGI Fridays.
The story of how three types of candy become associated with different holidays: conversation hearts for Valentine's Day, candy corn for Halloween, and Peeps for Easter.
The development of the chicken wing as a signature American snack, and the rise of two restaurant chains specializing in them: Buffalo Wild Wings and Hooters.
Alfred Peet mentors three friends whose Italian-style coffeehouses eventually become the world's largest chain. The rivalry of coffee titans Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts leads to new, high-sugar drinks like the Frappuccino which revolutionize the coffee market in America.
The introduction of SpaghettiOs in the 1960s and the Prego brand of pasta sauce in the 1980s by Campbell's. General Mills starts the first nationwide restaurant chain specializing in Italian–American cuisine, Olive Garden.
The founding of Mars Inc. and the disagreements between Franklin Clarence Mars and his son Forrest, who strikes out on his own to expand the family brand into Europe and turn it into a candy-making powerhouse.
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9
"Lunchbox Legends"
July 7, 2024 (2024-07-07)
N/A
The development of three products from the 1960s through the 1980s that revolutionize schoolchildren's lunches – Kraft Singles, individually wrapped cheese slices; Joray Fruit Rolls, dried fruit snacks that become the forerunner of Fruit Roll-Ups; and Lunchables, pre-packaged meat/cheese/cracker meals.
57
10
"The Colonel"
July 14, 2024 (2024-07-14)
N/A
The story of Harland Sanders and his new method for cooking fried chicken is presented, tracing his path from small-time restaurant owner to founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken and then to strident critic of the cost-cutting measures imposed by the company's new owners after he sells it.
58
11
"Citrus Soda Stars"
July 21, 2024 (2024-07-21)
N/A
The development of two citrus-flavored soda brands, 7 Up and Mountain Dew, as a counterattack against the cola products offered by the Coca-Cola and Pepsi companies that dominate the soft drink industry in the early 20th century.
59
12
"Burger Empire: The Ray Kroc Story"
July 28, 2024 (2024-07-28)
N/A
The career of Ray Kroc is presented, chronicling his purchase of a small hamburger restaurant company in California and efforts to grow it into the worldwide McDonald's fast food chain through franchising and product/kitchen innovation.
In March 2019, the series was green-lit.[50] In May 2020, the series was renewed for a second season.[51][52] Yoshi Stone is the series' showrunner.[53] Along with Stone, Kim Woodard, Greg Henry, and Isaac Holub executive produce for Lucky 8. Jim Pasquarella and Mary E. Donahue executive produce for the History Channel.[54][51]
Reception
The first season garnered a total of 18.8 million viewers.[55][51]
Podcast
In February 2021, the History Channel partnered with Ozy Media to launch a podcast of the same name.[56] The first episode premiered on February 4, 2021.[57]
The Food That Built America Snack Sized
In 2021, the producers of The Food That Built America created a new series called The Food That Built America Snack Sized by reediting some episodes to approximately half of the original size through the elimination of food historian commentary and some minor scenes to make smaller size episodes with a faster pace.[58]
