Mondelēz International Competitors, Marketcap, Revenue, Net Worth, 2025

James L. Kraft immigrated from Canada to the United States and started a wholesale door-to-door cheese business in Chicago. The first year of operations was dismal, losing $3,000 and a horse.

James Kraft was joined by his four brothers to form J.L. Kraft and Bros. Company, establishing the formal partnership that would grow into a major food corporation.

The company established its New York City headquarters to prepare for international expansion, signaling ambitions beyond the domestic American market.

Thirty-one varieties of cheeses were being sold across the United States due to heavy product development, expansion through marketing, and opening a wholly owned cheese factory in Illinois.

Kraft invented pasteurized processed cheese that did not require refrigeration, providing longer shelf life than conventional cheese. This innovation was patented in 1916 and revolutionized cheese distribution.

The company began national advertising and made its first acquisition, a Canadian cheese company. About six million pounds of processed cheese were sold to the U.S. Army during World War I.

National Dairy Products Corporation was formed on December 10th through merger of Thomas McInnerney’s Hydrox with Rieck McJunkin Dairy Co. The company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Kraft established sales offices in London, United Kingdom, and Hamburg, Germany, marking its first forays outside North America. Company sales reached $60.4 million.

Kraft acquired Phenix Cheese Company, maker of Philadelphia cream cheese brand, and changed its name to Kraft-Phenix Cheese Company, adding a premium product to its portfolio.

National Dairy acquired Kraft-Phenix with sales of $315 million compared to Kraft-Phenix’s $85 million. Kraft had captured 40% of the U.S. cheese market and began operating in Australia through merger with Fred Walker & Co.

The Sealtest brand of ice cream was launched as a unified national brand to replace numerous regional brands, consolidating the company’s ice cream marketing strategy.

The company tested television marketing by producing Kraft Television Theatre, an hour-long drama series. The test demonstrated television’s powerful marketing potential when grocery stores could not keep up with demand.

Product development accelerated with launches of sliced process cheese and Cheez Whiz cheese sauce. The company began moving away from low value-added commodity dairy products toward higher-margin cheese products.

Product development intensified with launches of fruit jellies, preserves, marshmallows, barbecue sauces, and Kraft Singles individually wrapped cheese slices. The company expanded in many markets worldwide during this decade.

The firm changed its name from National Dairy to Kraftco Corporation, reflecting expansion beyond regional milk and ice cream business. Dairy products other than cheese accounted for only 25% of sales.

The company changed its name to Kraft, Inc. to emphasize the trademark and acknowledge that dairy products, other than cheese, were now only a minor part of company sales.

Kraft merged with Dart Industries, makers of Duracell batteries, Tupperware, West Bend appliances, and Wilsonart plastics, to form Dart & Kraft, diversifying beyond food products.

Philip Morris Companies purchased Kraft for $12.9 billion at the end of the year, bringing the food company under tobacco industry ownership for strategic diversification.

Kraft merged with Philip Morris’s General Foods unit to form Kraft General Foods, combining Oscar Mayer meats, Maxwell House coffee, Jell-O, Post Cereals, and numerous other packaged food brands.

The company acquired Jacobs Suchard, a European coffee and confectionery giant, and Freia Marabou, a Scandinavian confectionery maker, to expand overseas and reduce dependence on U.S. markets.

The company changed its name to Kraft Foods Inc., selling its bakery division, candy division, and tablespreads division to focus on core food categories and streamline operations.

Philip Morris acquired Nabisco Holdings for $18.9 billion and merged the company with Kraft Foods, significantly expanding the snack food portfolio with iconic brands.

Philip Morris sold 280 million Kraft shares via the third-largest IPO of all time, retaining an 88.1% stake while beginning the process of separating the food business.

Kraft began major restructuring following declining sales blamed on rising health consciousness. The company announced closure of 19 production facilities, reduction of 5,500 jobs, and sale of its sugar confectionery division to Wrigley.

Kraft became an independent publicly held company when Altria spun off its 88.1% stake to shareholders. The company acquired Groupe Danone’s biscuit and cereal division for $7.2 billion, including French brand Lefèvre-Utile.

Berkshire Hathaway announced acquisition of an 8% stake worth over $4 billion. Kraft replaced American International Group in the Dow Jones Industrial Average on September 22nd.

Kraft completed acquisition of Cadbury for $19.5 billion on January 19th after initial offers were rejected. The purchase commanded 14.8% of the global candy and gum market. Nestlé purchased Kraft’s frozen pizza business for $3.7 billion.

Kraft Foods changed its name to Mondelez International, Inc. on October 1st following the spin-off of its North American grocery business to Kraft Foods Group, focusing on global snacks.