A Brief History of Nabisco and Oreo Cookies

Ah, Oreo. That wonderful treat, two chocolate biscuits with cream between them. Now 113 years old, it seems they've been around for as long as anyone can remember, and they show no signs of going anywhere. Most of that staying power, I'd wager, is down to the name: it has a pleasant ring to it and it makes you smile every time you say it. No other cookie has become a staple of Americana in quite the way that Oreo has.

But what of Nabisco, that fine purveyor of Chips Ahoy, Nutter Butter, Chicken-in-a-Biskit, Ritz Crackers, and countless other goodies? Well, just sit down and hear a maritime tale. It all begins in 1792 with Pearson & Sons, which produced a foodstuff for sea voyages called "pilot bread," or, as it's more commonly called, hardtack, a dense, almost inedible biscuit most commonly used for military rations.

In 1889, a businessman named William Moore bought and merged Pearson & Sons along with five other companies to form the New York Biscuit Company; nearly a decade later, NYBC merged with rival American Biscuit and Manufacturing Company to form the National Biscuit Company. Over the years, Nabisco changed hands a few times, being owned by R.J. Reynolds in the 80s, Kraft in the 90s, and, finally, it became part of the Mondelez conglomerate in the 21st Century. 

(Source: https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-nabisco-1991760)

The Nabisco factory on 73rd and Kedzie has for decades been something of a historical landmark to those who live in and around my hometown of Evergreen Park, and long may it continue to stand.

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For as long as I can remember, Oreo cookies were sold in collector's tins with special artwork every Christmas season. Several companies engaged in similar promotions--Coca-Cola sells Coke in retro glass bottles to mimic the famous advertisement of Santa enjoying an ice-cold Coke instead of the traditional milk and cookies.

Here is the 1999 Millennium edition of the Oreo tin. 

The lid and sides feature a montage of different logos and print ads from all of Oreo's history. A ribbon along the outside reads:

"You grew up with it. You grew young with it. It made you feel warm inside when it was cold outside. You shared it. You savored it. It brought all of you a little bit closer and made life a little bit sweeter. What is it? Only Oreo. Making the next century as sweet as the last..."

On the back is a poem entitled "Celebration."

"With the end of the century

Well in our sight

It's the right time to pause

And reflect our delight.

For the joys of the past

Form a wondrous look back

Now the only thing missing 

Is a great tasting snack.

An Oreo cookie

As the big event nears 

America's favorite 

Throughout the years

With those two chocolate wafers

And that sweet creme within

It's the one that we've loved

Since we first learned to grin

And while we can't help but wonder

What the future will bring

We at least know our parents

Did the very same thing

So by twist, lick, and dunking

All that Oreo fun

We'll ensure that the next

Century's much like this one.

Now let's celebrate 

In the warmth of that glow

And raise our milk glasses

And toast O-R-E-O"

Nice little pre-Mondelez-era collectible.