What are the main companies behind American cuisine? The answer depends on who you ask and where they live. Many famous food brands enjoyed all over the world had originated in the U.S. Some were inspired by traditions or local resources. And many have deeply influenced the people and culture around them. Here are some of the most famous and iconic food or beverage companies in each state.
Alabama – Golden Flake Chips and Wickles Pickles
Golden Flake was founded in 1923 in Birmingham, Alabama, in a grocery store basement. The brand was initially called Magic City Foods but was renamed Golden Flake in 1957. These potato chips are a staple in Southern snacking culture, with flavors like dill pickle and hot Cajun spice. Another iconic Alabama brand is Wickles Pickles, a family-owned company from Winfield, Alabama, known for its spicy, sweet, and tangy pickles that have become a Southern favorite.
Alaska – Copper River Seafoods
Seafood plays a vital role in Alaskan cuisine, and the company is a big part of the Alaskan economy. The brand is named after copper river salmon, a famous food in this state, which resides in the glacier-fed waters of Copper River in Southcentral Alaska. Copper River Seafoods was the 2023 Alaska Manufacturer of the Year by the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, according to Alaska Business.
Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire – Dunkin’
Dunkin’ began in 1950 in Quincy, Massachusetts, under the name “Open Kettle”. Off the bat, the most sold items were donuts and coffee. The brand was renamed “Dunkin” after the popularity of a donut made specifically to dunk into a cup of coffee. Today, the brand has over 50 donut flavors and strong customer loyalty, as many people choose it for their daily coffee runs. This is true for many states, including Massachusetts, its birthplace, as well as Maine and New Hampshire, which exemplify the “America Runs on Dunkin’” 2006 ad campaign. “This campaign is designed to connect emotionally with the hard-working cross-section of Americans who keep this country running every day; from the construction worker, to the office worker to the lawyer and so forth,” reads the company newsroom.
Nebraska and North Dakota – Runza
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Nebraska and North Dakota both have diverse populations, with one significant group being Russian German and their descendants. This included Sally Everett, who started the Runza chain in 1949. She developed their signature item, runza sandwiches, based on the classic Eastern European beirocks.
Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, and Missouri – Target
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Minnesota is the home state of Target, but the brand’s popularity includes most of the Midwest, especially Illinois, Michigan, and Missouri. Many Midwesterners have embraced the joke about pretending the store is high-end by calling it “Tar-zhay” with a French accent. Target is known for its affordable prices and one-stop convenience, and customers poke fun at themselves for going for a few groceries and leaving with a cart full of impulse buys. So although Target is not a famous food brand, its popularity as a grocery store deserves recognition.
South Dakota, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, and Missouri – Coca-Cola
There are few food or beverage brands as famous or iconic as Coca-Cola. It’s a staple in the Heartlands because of the company’s roots and history in the area. In the 1920s, small mining towns in South Dakota ran bottle operations that eventually turned into the company’s regional headquarters. Similarly, Idaho, Iowa, and Montana host production and distribution facilities, some of which date back to the early 1900s.
Arizona – Cold Stone Creamery
Cold Stone Creamery is not a typical ice cream shop where customers select prepared flavors. It allows people to create custom ice cream on a frozen granite stone. It’s the ultimate personalized ice cream experience that allows individualization without compromising quality. Cold Stone Creamery is one of the most famous establishments born out of Arizona, and it now serves its treats across the globe.
California, Kentucky, and Nevada – Ghirardelli Chocolate
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Italian chocolatier Domenico Ghirardelli founded the famous food brand in 1852. Over time, the company became so prominent that San Francisco declared the square with Ghirardelli buildings an official city landmark in 1965. Two years later, the primary production facility was relocated to San Leandro, California. Today, Ghirardelli’s Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop is a crowd magnet on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. Another prime Ghirardelli location is in Kentucky at the Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass, where its chocolatey fumes draw shoppers walking through the 80+ outlet stores.
Connecticut and South Carolina – Pepperidge Farm
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Pepperidge Farm began in 1937 with the founder Margaret Rudkin, who named the bakery brand after her farm in Fairfield, Connecticut. Incidentally, the farm was named after the pepperidge tree, which grows natively across eastern North America. Rudkin’s journey began with baking allergen-free bread for her son, using stone-ground flour, local dairy, and yeast. This became her first product. Today, Pepperidge Farm sells a wide variety of baked goods, including Farmhouse Breads, Goldfish Crackers, and Milano Cookies. These treats are especially popular in South Carolina because of their nostalgia and affordable pricing at outlet stores.
Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey – Dogfish Head Brewery
Sam and Mariah Calagione opened Dogfish Head Brewing & Eats in 1995 in Rehoboth Beach. At the time, they produced only 10 gallons of beer, but now they produce tens of thousands of gallons per day. Their first successful beer was Midas Touch, which was brewed with saffron, honey, and white Muscat grapes. Sam Calagione is known for his unconventional brewing methods and inventive use of ingredients. The brewery was featured in the Discovery Channel series Brew Masters in 2010. Although the brand distributes to over 40 states, it’s especially popular in the New Jersey’s craft scene. Also, Delaware and Maryland are the only ones with Dogfish Head Brewery alehouses.
Florida – Publix
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Although it’s not quite a food brand, Publix Super Markets must be included when talking about famous state brands. It was founded by George W. Jenkins during the Great Depression. In order to fund it, he mortgaged his orange grove (which happens to be Florida’s official state fruit). Today, Publix is the largest employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States, according to Forbes.
Hawaii – Dole
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Pineapple is important to the state’s agricultural history, but the Dole brand turned the fruit into an unofficial Hawaiian symbol. Today, Dole Plantation is a popular tourist spot on the island of Oahu. The brand’s products are widely available in all states, and Dole Whip has become a famous food at Disney parks.
Mississippi and Louisiniana – Barq’s Root Beer
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Chemist Edward Barq invented this iconic root beer in the 1890s after he opened Biloxi Artesian Bottling Works in Mississippi. He used a combination of sarsaparilla-based soda and artesian water, which stood apart from other root beers that used sassafras. Barq’s recipe became especially popular during the Prohibition as an alternative to alcohol, and its acclaim has continued until today. A special “red label” formula was distributed from New Orleans, Louisiana, with an altered recipe that better cuts through its spicy cuisine.
New Mexico – Hatch Chile Company
New Mexican cuisine has strong influences from indigenous, Spanish, Mexican, and Latin cultures. Few brands represent that as well as Hatch. The company was founded in Albuquerque and it sources its signature green chile peppers from local farmers. Its other noteworthy products include jalapeño peppers, enchilada sauces, and salsas, and they can be purchased all over the U.S.
New York – Joe’s Pizza
It’s a classic food debate: New York thin-crust pizza vs Chicago deep-dish pizza. For a slice of the iconic NYC pie, many point to Joe’s Pizza. The brand began in 1975 in Greenwich Village, and it now has popular shops near Times Square, Union Square, and all over the world.
North Carolina – Krispy Kreme
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Krispy Kreme began in 1937 when Vernon Rudolph sold hot doughnuts straight to customers on the street. He had bought a secret recipe from a New Orleans French chef to sell to grocery stores, but people smelled the baking and wanted to buy. So he cut a hole in the wall of his home, making the unofficial first location of this famous food brand in North Carolina. Today, there are over 500 locations all over the world.
Ohio and Kansas – Smucker’s
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J.M. Smucker Company headquarters is located on the appropriately named Strawberry Lane in Orville, Ohio. This massive food manufacturer began in 1897 when founder Jerome Monroe Smucker sold apple butter. He claimed to use apples from trees that were planted by American folk hero Johnny Appleseed. Today, Smucker’s is best known for its jams, peanut butter, syrups, and ice cream toppings. Its pet food line is particularly popular in Kansas, which hosts its production and distribution plants.
Oregon – Kettle Brand Chips
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Salem, Oregon, is the birthplace of the Kettle Brand chips in 1982. Although the brand sells worldwide, much of its operations have remained there and retained its local pride. The potato chips are marketed as “natural” and “non-GMO.” Its most popular flavors include Sea Salt & Vinegar, Sea Salt (original), Jalapeño, Honey Dijon, and BBQ.
Pennsylvania and Indiana – Hershey’s
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Hershey, Pennsylvania, is known as the “Sweetest Place on Earth.” It is home to the Hershey Company, Hershey’s Chocolate World, Hersheypark, Hershey Gardens, Hotel Hershey, and more attractions. There’s also regular civil establishments, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, and the Milton Hershey School, named after the company’s founder. Even the streetlamps are shaped like chocolate Hershey kisses. Meanwhile, Indiana hosts some of the major salty snack facilities under Hershey Co. including Dot’s Pretzels and SkinnyPop popcorn.
Rhode Island – Coffee Milk
Coffee milk is the official state drink of Rhode Island. It’s made by mixing coffee syrup with milk, just like chocolate milk. Autocrat (now called Finlay Extracts) is a food brand based in this state that manufactures the famous coffee syrup.
Tennessee – Jack Daniel’s Whiskey
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Jack Daniel Dystillery was founded in the 1860s, and it is the oldest registered distillery in the United States. The signature whiskey is made from a mash of 80% corn, 12% rye, and 8% malted barley. After being distilled in copper stills, the mash is filtered through stacks of sugar maple charcoal to remove the corn taste. As a result, the distillery draws many tourists to Lynchburg every year,
Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas – Whataburger
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They say everything is bigger in Texas, and Whataburger founder Harmon Dobson seemed to take that to heart. He aimed to create a massive, customizable burger that needed two hands to hold. Whataburger wasn’t just founded in Texas. Rather, it was designed to maintain a “hometown feel” that sparks Southern pride. Additionally, its 24/7 drive-thrus have become a local hub for family gatherings, post-game dinners, road trippers, and more. This brand loyalty extends into Oklahoma and other nearby states, with the newest clusters being opened in Arkansas, with more to come.
Utah – Crumbl Cookies
Sometimes a brand doesn’t need a long history to become a household name. Crumbl Cookies went viral over social media, leading to over 1000 stores opening in the U.S. But it all began in Logan, Utah, with cousins Jason McGowan and Sawyer Hemsley setting out to create a “perfect” giant milk chocolate chip cookie. So they began selling them over DoorDash from a temporary storefront. Now, they are known for their massive cookies, pink boxes, and new menus every week.
Vermont – Ben & Jerry’s
Ben & Jerry’s is a famous food brand founded in 1978 by two friends predictably named Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. The first scoop shop opened in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont. Today, the ice cream brand is known for selling classic flavors alongside unique combinations, such as Cherry Garcia, Chunky Monkey, and Chubby Hubby.
Virginia and Georgia – Peanuts
Virginia peanuts are larger than other common varieties like Valencia, Spanish, or Runner. They also tend to have a richer and sweeter taste. That’s why these peanuts are rarely blended into peanut butter. Rather, they are better enjoyed as a crunchy, salty snack. Popular peanut brands from this state include Hub’s, Belmont, Whitley’s, and Virginia Diner. Despite not being in the name of a peanut variety, Georgia grows and distributes far more than Virginia, although they sell runner peanuts that are typically used in peanut butter
Washington – Starbucks
Starbucks is famous worldwide, but it all began in 1971 as a coffee bean retailer that sold beans, tea, spices, and brewing equipment. Howard Schulz joined the business in 1982 as marketing director. But after a trip to Italy, he launched the first Starbucks coffee shop in 1984 in Seattle, Washington. His mission was to introduce European-style espresso bars to the U.S. and create social spaces for people beyond their homes and workplaces.
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West Virginia, Colorado, and Oklahoma – Ziegenfelder
The Ziegenfelder Candy Company is best known for its frozen treats, including the Budget Saver Twin Pops and Monster Pops. Twin Pops are their signature novelty, being two connected ice pops that can be split apart and shared. They originated during the Great Depression but remained popular ever since. The company has since created Monster Pops, which are twice the size of a single ice pop. Ziegenfelder also produces some iconic Sonic Drive-In treats, including Cherry Limeade and Ocean Water ice pops. Sonic Drive-In is especially popular in Colorado and Oklahoma (where it originated), making these states prime customers for these frozen sweets.
Wisconsin – Sargento
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Wisconsin is a state known for its cheese. In fact, it is known as “the Dairy State” or “America’s Dairyland.” As the U.S.’s main producer of dairy products, Wisconsin is the home of many dairy brands, but the most famous may be Sargento, a company that pioneered foods such as pre-packaged shredded cheese in 1951.
Wyoming – Wyoming Gourmet Beef
David Fales was born in Cody, Wyoming, in 1949, and in 2011, he founded Wyoming Gourmet Beef. Fales grew up on a cattle ranch and returned to Cody in 2009 to help his elderly father. However, he ended up staying in his small hometown to build a processing plant for his specialty beef business. The company prides itself on its ranching history and on using locally-sourced beef free of added hormones or antibiotics.