How Old Your Favorite 20 Snack Food Brands Actually Are
Chances are, the snacks you toss into your cart without thinking have been around longer than you have.
Those crinkly bags and bright boxes come with birthdays that stretch back through world wars, TV booms, and entire waves of pop culture.
Some brands began as tiny family operations, others as bold experiments in factory kitchens, yet all managed to survive shifting tastes and countless new competitors.
Learning how old they really are turns a simple pantry raid into a little time-travel tour through food history.
1. Planters – Launched 1906 (119 Years Old)
Before superheroes wore capes, Mr. Peanut was rocking a monocle and top hat like a boss.
Amedeo Obici started this nutty empire in Pennsylvania way back in 1906, making it one of the oldest snack brands still around.
That dapper peanut mascot became so iconic that people recognized him faster than their own neighbors.
Talk about timeless style that never goes stale!
2. Oreo – Launched 1912 (113 Years Old)
Twist, lick, dunk, repeat. Sound familiar?
Nabisco introduced this legendary cookie in 1912, and it quickly became the most popular cookie on planet Earth.
With its mysterious cream filling and perfectly crunchy chocolate wafers, the recipe has barely changed in over a century.
Some things really are too good to mess with, just saying!
3. Cheez-It – Launched 1921 (104 Years Old)
Imagine inventing the perfect square of cheesy goodness back when cars were still a novelty.
The Green & Green Company in Ohio did exactly that in 1921, creating these addictive little crackers.
Each tiny square packs a punch of real cheese flavor that makes stopping at just one basically impossible.
Your great-grandparents were probably sneaking handfuls too!
4. Slim Jim – Launched 1929 (96 Years Old)
Adolph Levis had a wild idea back in 1929: spiced sausage sticks for hungry bar patrons.
Little did he know he was creating a snack that would fuel road trips and lunchboxes for generations.
That signature snap and smoky flavor became legendary, proving that sometimes the best ideas come from the simplest needs.
Snap into nearly a century of history!
5. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – Launched 1928 (97 Years Old)
H.B. Reese was a dairy farmer who struck pure gold in 1928 with a simple combo: chocolate plus peanut butter.
The result? Basically the most perfect candy ever invented, according to millions of fans worldwide.
That ridged edge and creamy center have been making taste buds dance for almost 100 years now.
6. Twinkies – Launched 1930 (95 Years Old)
James Dewar spotted unused shortcake pans in 1930 and thought, why waste perfectly good equipment?
His golden sponge cakes filled with sweet cream became an instant American icon.
Despite rumors about their eternal shelf life, these treats have been delighting snackers for 95 years with their fluffy, sweet goodness.
7. Snickers – Launched 1930 (95 Years Old)
Named after the Mars family’s beloved horse, this candy bar galloped onto shelves in 1930.
Packed with peanuts, caramel, nougat, and chocolate, it became the ultimate hunger-fighting weapon.
Fun fact: it’s been satisfying cranky, hungry people for 95 years now, which is basically a public service.
You’re not you when you’re hungry, but Snickers has been fixing that since forever!
8. Lay’s – Launched 1932 (93 Years Old)
Herman Lay started selling chips from his car trunk in 1932, building an empire one crispy slice at a time.
His potato chips became the first nationally marketed brand, changing snack history forever.
That satisfying crunch and perfect salt level have kept people coming back for 93 years.
Bet you can’t eat just one?
Nobody could resist then either!
9. Fritos – Launched 1932 (93 Years Old)
Charles Elmer Doolin bought a corn chip recipe for $100 in 1932, which turned out to be the best investment ever.
Inspired by a Mexican restaurant’s creation, he launched these crunchy corn chips that changed snacking forever.
That distinctive corn flavor and satisfying crunch have been winning hearts for over nine decades.
10. Ritz Crackers – Launched 1934 (91 Years Old)
During the Great Depression, Nabisco launched these crackers in 1934, named after the fancy Ritz hotel to bring elegance to everyone.
Those buttery, flaky rounds with their signature perforated tops became instant comfort food.
Even 91 years later, they’re still the perfect base for everything from cheese to peanut butter. Affordable luxury never goes out of style!
11. Kit Kat – Launched 1935 (90 Years Old)
Break me off a piece of that 90-year-old history!
Rowntree’s Company launched this wafer-chocolate combo in 1935, and the world has been snapping into it ever since.
That satisfying break and crispy crunch made it perfect for sharing, though let’s be honest, nobody actually wants to share.
12. M&M’s – Launched 1941 (84 Years Old)
Inspired by chocolate pellets soldiers ate during wartime, Forrest Mars created these colorful candies in 1941.
The hard candy shell kept chocolate from melting in your hands, solving a messy problem deliciously.
For 84 years, these little rainbow gems have been melting in mouths, not hands, just like the slogan promises.
13. Cheetos – Launched 1948 (77 Years Old)
Frito-Lay stumbled onto pure magic in 1948 when they created these cheesy puffs of joy.
That unnaturally orange dust that coats your fingers? It’s been staining fingertips for 77 glorious years now.
Chester Cheetah might be cool, but the real MVP is whoever invented the recipe that makes these dangerously addictive.
14. Ruffles – Launched 1948 (77 Years Old)
Why settle for flat chips when you can have ridges that hold more dip?
Somebody brilliant asked that question in 1948, and Ruffles was born with its signature wavy shape.
For 77 years, those ridges have been the perfect vehicle for scooping up everything imaginable.
The texture adds extra crunch, making every bite an adventure in chip engineering!
15. Goldfish – Launched 1958 (67 Years Old)
Pepperidge Farm introduced these smiling fish in 1958, originally marketing them as sophisticated cocktail snacks for adults.
Plot twist: kids hijacked them and never looked back!
For 67 years, these cheerful little crackers have been swimming into lunchboxes everywhere, proving that cute food just tastes better.
16. Chips Ahoy! – Launched 1963 (62 Years Old)
Nabisco wanted to challenge homemade cookies in 1963, which sounds bold until you taste these crispy chocolate chip wonders.
That distinctive crunch and generous chocolate chip distribution won over skeptics quickly.
Sixty-two years later, they’re still delivering that satisfying snap with every bite.
Sometimes store-bought really does compete with grandma’s recipe, no offense to grandmas everywhere!
17. Doritos – Launched 1964 (61 Years Old)
Born from leftover tortilla scraps at Disneyland’s Casa de Fritos in 1964, talk about turning trash into treasure!
Those bold flavors and triangle shapes revolutionized chip culture forever.
From Cool Ranch to Nacho Cheese, these crunchy triangles have been coating tongues orange for 61 years.
Disney magic accidentally created one of the world’s most popular snacks!
18. Pop-Tarts – Launched 1964 (61 Years Old)
Kellogg’s dropped these toaster pastries in 1964, basically inventing portable breakfast before it was cool.
Frosted, filled, and ready in seconds, they became the ultimate busy-morning solution.
Whether toasted or straight from the package, these rectangular treats have been fueling mornings for 61 years.
Breakfast never looked so convenient or tasted so sugary sweet!
19. Bugles – Launched 1964 (61 Years Old)
Admit it: you’ve worn these on your fingers like witch nails at least once since 1964.
General Mills created these cone-shaped corn snacks that are equal parts delicious and entertaining.
Their unique shape and satisfying crunch have been making snack time fun for 61 years.
Functional finger food that doubles as entertainment?
Pure genius wrapped in a crunchy cone!
20. Pringles – Launched 1968 (57 Years Old)
Procter & Gamble engineered these perfectly uniform chips in 1968 to solve broken chip syndrome.
That distinctive tube and stackable shape changed chip packaging forever, plus that mustachioed mascot is unforgettable.
Once you pop, you really can’t stop has been true for 57 years running.
Science created the perfect chip shape, and snackers everywhere are eternally grateful!
