These 12 Major Food Brands Call New Jersey Home
The state’s position wedged between New York City and Philadelphia created an ideal hub for food production during the past hundred years.
A dozen food and beverage brands trace their origins to New Jersey, including Oreos, Campbell's Soup, and M&Ms. According to a report from The Digest, the state's position wedged between New York City and Philadelphia created an ideal hub for food production during the past hundred years.
Campbell's Soup launched in Camden back in 1869. The company canned vegetables, tomatoes, jellies, and meats. Today, the business still calls the South Jersey city home, recognized worldwide for those red-and-white soup cans.
Oreos made their debut sale to a Hoboken grocer after a Manhattan factory started churning them out. The city pays tribute to the cookie with Oreo Way, a stretch of 9th Avenue running between 15th and 16th Streets.
M&Ms burst onto the market in Newark back in 1941 before the operation shifted to a larger factory in Hackettstown. About half of all M&Ms production continues at the Hackettstown site. These chocolate candies became famous as treats that won't melt in your hand.
Tootsie Rolls began mass production in Hoboken during the 1930s, though the brand got its start in Chicago. Thomas' English Muffins were produced in Totowa until the late 1990s. Then manufacturing packed up and left the state.
Arizona Iced Tea, despite what the name suggests, started in the New York City Metro area. The 99-cent cans turned into a staple at delis and bagel shops throughout the state since the 1990s. Arizona Beverage Co. opened ArizonaLand in Woodbridge Township in 2024, offering guided tours of the facility.
Ellio's Pizza was founded by Greek immigrants Elias Betzios, George Liolis, and Manny Tzelios in 1963. That nine-slice box of square pizzas? Still made in Lodi.
Hostess Cakes and Twinkies trace back to Schmaltz Bakery, which German immigrant John Schmaltz started in Hoboken in 1865. Continental Baking Company later moved production of the snacks to the Hudson County city.
Manischewitz, a leading producer of Kosher products, ran its largest plant and corporate headquarters in Newark from 2006 until 2017. Goya has maintained its headquarters in Secaucus for decades after starting out in New York City.
Mallomars were first sold to a West Hoboken grocer in 1913. Joe Tea started in Montclair in 1998 as a locally bottled iced tea before expanding nationwide. Taylor Provisions created the breakfast meat known as Taylor Ham or Pork Roll in 1856.
