Pepperidge Farm

Margaret Rudkin discovered that one of her sons had an allergy to commercial breads that contained preservatives and artificial ingredients. So in 1937, she began experimenting with baking her own preservative-free bread and perfected a whole-wheat loaf that contained only natural ingredients. Encouraged, she began a small business out of her kitchen selling her "Pepperidge Farm", named for her family's farm in Fairfield, Conn., bread to local grocers. In 1947, the company opened its first modern bakery in Norwalk, Conn. New products included dinner rolls, stuffing and oatmeal breads. Campbell Soup Company, one of the largest and most highly respected food companies in North America, acquired Pepperidge Farm in 1961. America got its first taste of Goldfish crackers in 1962, when Rudkin discovered the snack cracker on a trip to Switzerland. It has almost 3,000 independent distributors. Its products are available nationwide and in 40 countries throughout the world. Pepperidge Farm has a location in Bloomfield, Conn.