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Explore the historical price changes of iconic American products such as Hershey's chocolate, Idaho potatoes, Kellogg's cereal, Coca-Cola, and Kool-Aid. Discover the remarkable transformations in pricing over the years and the percentage of change. Dive into the fascinating journey of these household brands that have shaped American culture.
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Milton Hershey was born in 1857. He started work as a printer's apprentice, but went on to work for a candy maker in Lancaster, PA. He opened his first candy shop in Philadelphia in 1876. After several failed business attempts, he returned to Lancaster and established the Lancaster Caramel Co. His interest in coating caramels with chocolate resulted in the birth of the Hershey Chocolate Co. in 1894. Today, Hershey's is America's leading chocolate manufacturer, and produces more than 1 billion pounds of chocolate products each year.
In 1900, a Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar sold for 3¢. Today, you can buy it for 78¢. What is the percent of change?
Idaho's first potatoes were planted in 1837 by Presbyterian minister Henry Spalding. He came to northern Idaho to establish a mission for the Nez Perce Indians. Since the buffalo herds were being depleted, he offered to teach the natives how to raise agricultural crops. He developed a 15-acre potato plot and produced successful harvests. Some of the first commercial sales of Idaho potatoes were probably to wagon train immigrants traveling westward.
In 1945, you could buy 10 potatoes for 7¢. Today, it costs $2.25. What is the percent of change?
At 14, Will Keith Kellogg sold brooms for his father's broom business. Later, he worked with his brother, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, at the Battle Creek Sanitarium. In 1894, John and Will developed a successful cereal flake that they first served to patients at the sanitarium. In 1906, John launched his own food company to sell his Toasted Corn Flakes cereal. If all of the Kellogg's cereal boxes consumed since 1906 were placed side-by-side, they would ring the earth more than 3,000 times.
Kellogg’s Corn Flakes cost 13¢ back in 1910. Today, a box costs $3.50. What is the percent of change?
In 1886, Atlanta physician and chemist Dr. John Stith Pemberton developed a nerve tonic called "Pemberton's French Wine Cola." A prohibition law persuaded Pemberton to revise his original formula, substituting sugar instead of wine. This new Coca-Cola was advertised as an ideal temperance drink. The Coca-Cola Co. was incorporated 1888. In 1886 - about nine drinks were sold each day. Today's daily sales number 450 million.
In 1886 - about nine drinks were sold each day. Today's daily sales number 450 million. What is the percent of change?
Kool-Aid got its start in Hastings, Nebraska. In the early 1900s, Edwin Perkins enjoyed studying chemistry and inventions. His father opened a general store and he became fascinated with food products. He started his own company, Perkins Products, and experimented with methods to remove the liquid from a concentrated drink mix called Fruit Smack. The resulting powder was repackaged under the name "Kool-Ade," and later changed to "Kool-Aid," the name that's so popular today. More than 563 million gallons are consumed in a year.
When Kool-Aid was first invented, only about 3 gallons were drank each day. Today about 1,542,000 Gallons of Kool-Aid are drank each day. What is the percent of change?
Learn more information about The Branding of America at http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/branding/index.php
