About us

Ferdinand Schumacher founds German Mills American Cereal Company in Akron, OH. During the same period, John Stuart established the North Star Mills Company in Canada.

The Quaker brand registers the first trade‑mark for a breakfast cereal. The trade‑mark is registered with the U.S. Patent Office as "a figure of a man in Quaker branded garb." Both former owners, Henry Seymour and William Heston, claim to have selected the Quaker name as a symbol of good quality and honest value.

Henry Parsons Crowell buys the bankrupt Quaker Mill in Ravenna, OH, and its most important asset – the brand name Quaker.

Crowell launches the first national magazine advertising program for a breakfast cereal.

The American Cereal Company runs a special all‑Quaker Oats train from Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Portland, Oregon, and introduces the first ever "trial‑size samples." 1/2 oz. sample boxes of Quaker Oats are delivered to every mailbox in Portland, Oregon.

Two more firsts – the Quaker brand introduces the idea of packaged premiums by inserting chinaware items into boxes of oats, and becomes the first brand to feature a recipe on its box (the recipe was for Oatmeal Bread).

The major Canadian production facility for Quaker Oats is located in Peterborough, Ontario on the shores of the Otonabee River.

Oat Cakes become the first oatmeal cookie to appear on the Quaker^® Oats package.

The familiar round Quaker^® Oats package is introduced.

Quaker introduces Quaker^® Quick Oats, one of the first convenience products.

Life^® Cereal is introduced in its original flavour.

Quaker^® Instant Oatmeal is introduced.

The first flavoured instant oatmeal is introduced – Maple & Brown Sugar is distributed nationally and Date & Brown Sugar is distributed regionally.

Quaker^® introduces the world to Quaker Chewy^® granola bars.

Actor Wilford Brimley stars in the advertising campaign, "The Right Thing to Do," which runs for over 5 years.

The Quaker^® brand submits a heart health petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administraton (FDA) for consideration.

The FDA issues a proposal for the first health claim for a specific food – oatmeal for heart health.

The first food‑specific health claim for oatmeal is approved by the FDA. The new heart health claim appears on Quaker^® Oatmeal cereals which qualify. The claim reads: "Soluble fibre from oatmeal as part of a low saturated fat, low cholesterol diet, may reduce the risk of heart disease."

The Quaker^® brand celebrates its 130‑year anniversary.

The famous Quaker^® man (affectionately known as Larry) undergoes a subtle makeover ‑ including getting back in shape by eating right and exercising, trimming his famous coif and revealing more radiant skin from daily oatmeal masks.