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Oreo

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For other uses, see Oreo (disambiguation).
Oreo
Company typeBrand
IndustryFood
FoundedNew York City (1912)
HeadquartersEast Hanover, New Jersey, United States
ParentNabisco (Kraft Foods)
WebsiteOreo.com

Oreo is a trademark for a popular sandwich cookie by the Nabisco Division of Kraft Foods. The current design consists of a sweet, white filling commonly referred to as 'cream' or 'creme', sandwiched between two circular chocolate or golden cookie pieces.

Over 491 billion Oreo cookies have been sold since they were first introduced, making them the best selling cookie of the 20th century.[1] Its most recent packaging slogan is "Milk's Favorite Cookie", which is a slight change from the original, "America's Favorite Cookie" (though some packages in the U.S. still use the original slogan).

History

Close up of the Oreo cookie

The Oreo cookie was developed and produced by Nabisco in 1912[2][3] at its Chelsea factory in New York City. It was commercialized in order to target the British market, whose biscuits were seen by Nabisco to be too 'ordinary'.[4][unreliable source?] Originally, Oreo was mound-shaped and available in two flavors; lemon meringue and cream. In America, they were sold for 25 cents a pound in novelty tin cans with glass tops, which allowed customers to see the cookies.

File:Oreo Face.svg
The distinctive face of an Oreo cookie

A newer design for the cookie was introduced in 1916, and as the cream filling was by far the more popular of the two available flavors, Nabisco discontinued production of the lemon meringue filling during the 1920s. The modern-day Oreo was developed in 1952 by William A Turnier,[4] to include the Nabisco logo.

Oreo is very similar to the Hydrox cookie manufactured by Sunshine, which was introduced in 1908, leading to speculation that Nabisco obtained the idea from Sunshine. Having lost market share to Oreo for years, Hydrox cookies were withdrawn in 1999.[5]

The product is distributed under the Kraft parent label and has no mention of the US sub-division Nabisco that is used in all countries where it is available for retail. In Canada, it is marketed under the Christie brand name.

The original Oreo recipe used pork fat (lard) to create the creme filling.[6] Today, the creme filling is created using a mixture of vegetable oils. Outside the United States, some ingredients include Coconut Oil to give it a different taste from the American version, which does not feature coconut oil in its Oreo products.

Etymology

The Oreo was originally called the Oreo Biscuit. The name was later changed to the Oreo Sandwich in 1921. In 1948, the name was changed again to the Oreo Creme Sandwich. It was then changed to the Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookie in 1974.[7]

Oreo comes from the Greek root for appetizing as in orexin or orexigenic (appetite stimulating) or anorexic (loss of appetite). There are many theories pointing to the origin of the name 'Oreo', including derivations from the French word 'Or', meaning gold (as early packaging was gold), or the Greek word 'Oros', meaning mountain or hill (as the original Oreo was mound shaped) or even the Greek word 'Oreo', meaning beautiful or nice.[7] Other theories are that the 're' from cream was 'sandwiched' between the two Os from cookie, or the word 'just seemed like a nice, melodic combination of sounds'. A TV spot for the Got Milk? campaign showed a false etymology where, when at a board meeting to decide the name of the cookie, one of the members is asked for his opinion; the member, who just ate a cookie and does not have any milk to wash it down responds "I don't know," which is heard by the board member as "Oreo."

Advertising campaign

Nabisco began a marketing program in 2008, advertising the use of Oreo cookies in a game called DSRL, which stands for "Double Stuf Racing League." The DSRL was introduced one week prior to Super Bowl XLII. This sport had also been endorsed by football brothers Peyton Manning and Eli Manning.[8] Sisters Venus and Serena Williams have also joined, and challenged the Mannings to a race, which started on January 18, 2009.[9] A new campaign has started for golden double stuf Oreo cookies with the brothers being challenged by Donald Trump & "Double Trump" played by Darrell Hammond; the date for this competition was January 24, 2010. The Mannings won in both cases.

Nabisco also held a worldwide Oreo Stacking Competition. Jordan White from the United States Won the final contest.

Music

In 1990 singer/Songwirter/Parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic wrote a tribute to the Oreo, titled "The White Stuff", a parody of the New Kids on the Block single 'You Got It (The Right Stuff)'. The song focuses on the virtues of the creme inside an Oreo.

Also in 1990, songwriter Lonnie Mack wrote a song titled "Oreo Cookie Blues" from his album "Strike Like Lightning". The song is focused on how much the narrator of the song loves the oreo cookie.

China

Oreo cookies were introduced to Chinese consumers in 1996 and gradually grew its sales in the fast-growing Chinese biscuit market. In 2006 Oreo became the best-selling cookie in the People's Republic of China, after altering its recipe to have a lower sugar content to suit local tastes.[10] Kraft Foods also introduced smaller size packages of Oreo cookies that became more affordable to the majority of Chinese consumers. Kraft began a grassroots marketing campaign in China to educate Chinese consumers about the American tradition of pairing milk with cookies. The company created an Oreo apprentice program at 30 Chinese universities that drew 6,000 student applications. Three hundred of the applicants were trained to become Oreo brand ambassadors, and some students rode around Beijing on bicycles with wheel covers resembling Oreo cookies and handed out cookies to more than 300,000 consumers. Others organized Oreo-themed basketball games to reinforce the idea of dunking cookies in milk. Television commercials depicted children twisting apart Oreo cookies, licking the cream center and dipping the chocolate cookie halves into glasses of milk.[11]

Although sales improved, Kraft still felt the Oreo could do better and decided to reinvent the traditional, round biscuit to a wafer. The new offering was called Oreo Wafer Sticks and consists of four layers of crispy wafer filled with vanilla and chocolate cream, and on the exterior is coated with chocolate. The wafer was also formulated to ensure that the chocolate coating was not too sweet for Chinese consumers and product could be shipped across the country---withstanding the cold climate in the north and the hot, humid weather in the south.[11] The new Oreo was outselling traditional round Oreo cookies in China in 2006, and Kraft has begun selling the wafers elsewhere in Asia, as well as in Australia and Canada. Kraft has also introduced Oreo Wafer Rolls, a tube-shaped wafer lined with cream, in China. The hollow cookie can be used as a straw through which to drink milk.

Over the past two years, Kraft has doubled its Oreo sales in China, and now China is the second-largest Oreo market globally behind the United States. With the help of those sales, Oreo revenue topped $1 billion world-wide for the first time in 2007.[11]

Norway

In 2004, the convenience store chain Deli de Luca started selling Oreo in all of their stores. It was welcomed well among the consumers, and is the most selling cookie to youth. After a while[when?] other larger chains in Norway (Ica, Rema 1000, Meny and Ultra) began selling Oreo cookies as well and they can now be found in almost every convenience store in urban/suburban Norway. In 2005, the stores stopped the importation to Norway because Kraft Foods took over.[citation needed]

UK

In May 2008, following stocking of Oreo cookies in the supermarket chain Sainsbury's, Kraft decided to fully launch the Oreo across the UK, repackaged in the more familiar British tube design, accompanied with a £4.5m television advertising campaign around the 'twist, lick, dunk' catchphrase.[12] Kraft recently partnered with McDonald's to bring the Oreo McFlurry (already on sale in many countries) to a few McDonald's locations. The UK Oreo website gives a slightly different ingredients list to that of the US product. Unlike the US version, UK oreos contain whey powder and so are not suitable for people who avoid milk products.[13][14]

Production

According to a statement from Kim McMiller, an Associate Director of Consumer Relations, a two-stage process is used to make Oreo cookies. The base cake dough is formed into the familiar round cookies by a rotary mold at the entrance of a 300-foot-long oven. Much of current Oreo production is done at the Kraft/Nabisco factory in Richmond, Virginia. Oreo cookies for the Asian markets are manufactured in Indonesia and China. European Oreo Cookies are made in Spain.

Varieties

In addition to their traditional design of two chocolate wafers separated by a cream filling, Oreo cookies have been produced in many different varieties since they were first introduced, and this list is only a guide to some of the more notable and recent types; not all are available in every country. Notable flavors in the US are:[15]

A 'Double Stuf' Oreo Cookie
A 'mini Oreo' cookie compared with a United States penny
  • "Oreo DQ Blizzard Creme" are a limited edition Oreo released in April-May 2010 celebrating The 25th anniversary of the Dairy Queen Blizzard.
  • Double Stuf Golden Oreo cookies are the newest variety of Oreo cookies that were introduced in late August 2009. As their name indicates they are Double Stuf Oreos with Golden Oreo wafers instead of normal chocolate Oreo wafers.
  • Oreo Fudgees are rectangular "dipping" shaped Oreos with a chocolate fudge filling (different from the Chocolate Creme Oreo).
  • Oreo Fudge Sundae Creme (Limited Edition) are chocolate ring cookies with the traditional white cream filling on Half of Ring cookie, the other half is a Fudge cream, introduced in 2009.
  • Oreo Fudge Rings are chocolate ring cookies with the traditional white cream filling drizzled over them.
  • Oreo WaferStix are long wafer sticks that have a creamy filling and are covered by chocolate.
  • Golden Oreo have vanilla wafers and the traditional white cream filling.
  • Golden Chocolate Creme Oreo are 'reverse' (inverse) Oreo cookies in that they comprise vanilla wafers and a chocolate cream filling. The product was originally called Uh-Oh Oreo until its rebranding in 2007.
  • Mini Oreo, originally released in 1991,[16] are bite-sized versions of ordinary Oreo cookies. After being discontinued in the late 1990s they were re-released in 2000 along with the redesigned 2001 Dodge Caravan as part of a promotional tie-in with DaimlerChrysler[17] Their 1990s packaging consisted of a "miniaturized" version of the full-size cardboard tray and box used in packaging at the time. Their current packaging consists of an aluminum foil bag.
  • Vend Pack Oreo cookies from vending machine 6-packs are smaller diameter Oreo cookies with about 10% less mass than regular Oreo cookies (8.5g vs 9.5g).
  • Double Stuf Oreo (introduced in 1975) have about twice the normal amount of white cream filling. Available in peanut butter, original, cool mint or chocolate cream.
  • Big Stuf Oreo (introduced in 1984) were several times the size of a normal Oreo.[18][19] Sold individually, each Big Stuf contained 316 calories and 13 grams of fat.[20] They were discontinued in 1991.
  • Double Delight Oreo (introduced in 1987) have chocolate cookies with two fillings, notably peanut butter and chocolate; mint and cream; and coffee and cream flavors.
  • Cool Mint Creme Oreo are a Double Stuf Oreo with a slightly minty creme filling.
  • Fudge Covered Oreo, White Fudge Oreo and Milk Chocolate Oreo are covered in either a layer of fudge, white fudge or milk chocolate respectively.
  • Pure Milk Chocolate Covered Mint Oreo are similar to Milk Chocolate Oreo, but have a mint-flavored filling.
  • 100 Calorie Pack Oreo (Oreo Thinsations in Canada) are miniature, thin, hexagonal versions of Oreo that do not contain cream-filling and come individually-portioned into 100 calorie pouches.
  • Triple Stuf Oreo (introduced in 2006) were limited to certain cities for a one month promotional trial before being permanently discontinued, they had three times the normal amount of white cream filling.[citation needed]
  • Sugar Free Oreo (introduced in 2006) compared to regular Oreo cookies, had only trace amounts of sugar, cost over twice as much, had 10 less calories per serving, contained 0.5 grams more fat, and consisted of 450% more fiber.[21]
  • Reduced Fat Oreo (introduced in 2006) compared to regular Oreo cookies, had as much sugar, cost the same, had 10 less calories per serving, contained approximately 35% less fat, and consisted of the same amount of fiber.[21]
  • Oreo Cakesters are 2 or 3 chocolate soft snack cakes with vanilla creme in the middle, which were introduced in 2007. These are also available with chocolate creme, or in the "golden" variety (marketed as both Oreo and Nilla Cakesters in the U.S.).
  • Banana Split Creme Oreo were available for a limited time in 2008 whose filling is a light yellow with a banana flavor.
Banana Split Creme Oreos
  • During springtime, around Halloween, and Christmas, special edition Double Stuf Oreo cookies are produced with colored frosting depicting the current holiday (blue or yellow, orange, and red or green, respectively).
  • Oreo Handi-Snacks are plastic holders with rectangular Oreo cookies and a little box of icing.
  • Chocolate and Dulce de leche Oreo are sold in Chile and Argentina, which instead of the usual creme, it has chocolate or Dulce de Leche
  • Oreo Sippers are Oreo flavored sticks that can be eaten or used as a straw.
  • In 2010, Oreo partnered with How To Train Your Dragon and came out with Oreos with red creme

Many of these varieties are combined, producing, for example, "Chocolate Fudge Mint Covered", "Double Stuf Chocolate Creme", and so forth.

Variations and adaptations

File:Oreo Strawberry.JPG
Oreo cookie with strawberry cream.
  • Dairy Queen's Oreo Blizzard - A vanilla Blizzard with Oreo chunks mixed in.
  • Jell-O Oreo Pudding - Jell-O brand chocolate pudding at the bottom and on top, with vanilla in the middle.
  • Jell-O Oreo Instant Pudding — also named cookies n' cream. The box contains instant vanilla pudding with real cookie pieces.
  • There was a Post cereal called Oreo O's. The cereal was discontinued in 2007.
  • In Italy, a similar cookie to Oreo called "Ringo" is manufactured by Pavesi, though recently Oreo became available as well, first in Blockbuster, then in supermarkets, and in 2008 the first Italian ad was launched.
  • In Brazil, a very similar cookie to Oreo called "Negresco" is manufactured by Nestlé (picture, description).
  • Oreo Ice Cream. This is licensed by Breyers, Good Humor, and Klondike in the US, and Nestlé in Canada. Flavors are:
    • Oreo Ice Cream (Blended Oreo cookies in Vanilla Ice Cream)
    • Oreo Ice Cream Sandwich (Extra Large Oreo wafers with the above mentioned ice cream in the middle)
    • Oreo Ice Cream Bar (Chocolate Ice Cream bar with the above mentioned Ice Cream)
    • Mint Oreo Ice Cream (Blended Oreo Cookies with Mint Ice Cream)
    • Many notable fast-food restaurants serve Oreo flavored ice cream desserts and milkshakes
  • Easy-Bake Oreo Mix — two easy-bake chocolate cakes with a marshmallow filling topped off with an Oreo cookie topping
  • Oreo o's oreo cookies in the version of cereal
  • Oreo Chocolate Candy Bar- A chocolate candy bar consisting of a rectangular Oreo cookie and Oreo cream filling covered in milk chocolate.
  • Oreo Pie Crust- A pie crust made using crushed Oreo cookies sold around the U.S.
  • Oreo Madness at T.G.I. Fridays
  • Organic Oreo (introduced in 2006) - plain Oreo cookies made with organic flavor and organic sugar.
  • Banana Split Oreo — introduced in Canada, an Oreo cookie with banana flavoring.[22]
  • Strawberry Milkshake Oreo — introduced in Canada, and sold for a limited time in the United States, an Oreo cookie with strawberry flavoring.[22]
  • Oreo Milkshake[23] is a recipe by Kraft Foods which consists of Oreo Cookies, milk, vanilla ice-cream and chocolate syrup.
  • Oreo Peanut Butter Creme
  • Brown Oreos
  • Oreo Cookie Cheesecake, manufactured by The Cheesecake Factory.
  • Oreo Blueberry Ice Cream flavor, is introduced in Indonesia in 2010

Recipes

The Oreo cookie is commonly used as an ingredient or adornment for other foods, ranging from ice cream, milkshakes, pies, cakes, and donuts, to other creations.[24] Oreos are used in Domino Pizza's "Oreo Pizza". In addition, many ice cream and milkshake flavors include "cookies and cream", or vanilla ice cream with chunks of chocolate sandwich cookies included, which may or may not be official Oreos.[25] Since the original Oreo used pork fat, Hydrox were frequently used as an alternative. Carnivals and fairs offer deep fried battered Oreos.

See also

References

  1. ^ Toops, Diane: Top 10 power brands, Retrieved on June 7, 2007
  2. ^ http://www.kraftfoodscompany.com/Brands/largest-brands/brands-O/oreo.aspx
  3. ^ "The Food Timeline: history notes--cookies, crackers & biscuits". Retrieved 2010-03-03). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ a b Health food junkies beware: It's National Cookie Month!
  5. ^ Lukas, Paul. "Oreos to Hydrox: Resistance Is Futile." Business 2.0 March 1999. A reformulated version called Droxies was also later withdrawn.
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ a b Feldman, David (1987). Why do clocks run clockwise? and other Imponderables. New York, New York: Harper & Row Publishers. pp. 173–174. ISBN 0-06-095463-9.
  8. ^ The DSRL had 2 members joined (Peyton Manning and Eli Manning) "The Second Sport" http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/01-14-2008/0004735850&EDATE=
  9. ^ nabiscoworld.com/oreo/dsrl
  10. ^ "Kraft Reformulates Oreo, Scores in China". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  11. ^ a b c http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120958152962857053.html?mod=yhoofront
  12. ^ BBC News Magazine Can Oreo win over British biscuit lovers?, 2 May 2008
  13. ^ http://www.oreo.eu/oreo/page?siteid=oreo-prd&locale=uken1&PagecRef=616
  14. ^ http://www.nabiscoworld.com/Brands/ProductInformation.aspx?BrandKey=oreo&Site=1&Product=4400000820
  15. ^ http://www.kraft.com/100/innovations/oreoprod.html [dead link]
  16. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/24/business/rjr-nabisco-reports-neet-of-123-million-in-3d-quarter.html?scp=11&sq=mini%20oreos&st=Search RJR Nabisco Reports Neet Of $123 Million in 3d Quarter
  17. ^ http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-28159731_ITM
  18. ^ "Oreo Madness".
  19. ^ Friedman, Marty (November 1989). "Sizing up — and down — new product opportunities". Prepared Foods.
  20. ^ "Oreo Sandwiches Big Stuf".
  21. ^ a b "Sugar-free Oreos are still a no-no". Consumer Reports.
  22. ^ a b New Products
  23. ^ http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/oreo-milk-shake-53860.aspx
  24. ^ "Sweet Ingredients: Oreo Products". Retrieved 2008-03-26.
  25. ^ "Calories in Baskin-Robbins— Oreo Cookies 'n Cream Ice Cream". Retrieved 2008-03-26.
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