INTERVIEW: Kellogg, Heinz, McDonald, Hershey made ‘Food That Built America’
Photo: The Food That Built America, a three-part miniseries on the History channel, dives into the stories of entrepreneurs who changed the American food landscape. Photo courtesy of History / Lucky 8 / Copyright 2019 / Provided by A&E press site with permission.
The Food That Built America is History’s ambitious three-part miniseries that looks at the famous families and brands that have created American food culture. Well-known names like Kellogg, Heinz, McDonald and Hershey are all documented in the special TV event, which kicks off Sunday, Aug. 11 at 9 p.m. Parts two and three air the following nights, Aug. 12 and 13.
The miniseries looks at how these entrepreneurs faced many trials and tribulations in getting their products to market, and then, of course, how those products went on to change the American cultural landscape. What would the country be without those iconic yellow arches? How about those glass ketchup bottles on dinner tables? And what about Mr. Goodbar?
Helping tell these stories are successful TV personalities, including Adam Richman, Buddy Valastro, Padma Lakshmi and Gail Simmons, among others.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Isaac Holub, executive producer of Lucky 8. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What can audience members expect from The Food That Built America?
The show brings viewers the human stories behind these iconic products that we, for the most part, take for granted today. We all encounter names like Heinz, Hershey, Kellogg’s and McDonald’s on a daily basis, but the incredible stories of the men and women who actually created these products and made them household names are largely unknown.
So we’re peeling back the curtain on these food industry pioneers who have had such a profound effect on modern American culture. We dive into each product’s origins, as well as the fierce rivalries, struggles, failures and ultimate successes that these entrepreneurs encountered along the way.
How did the team choose the different food rivalries to focus on?
Well, there are some you just can’t ignore when creating a series about food industry tycoons — Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, etc. These are universally recognized names, and, luckily for us, there are also extremely compelling and unexpected stories behind them.
Those were really the parameters when narrowing down the list. While we were certainly looking to spotlight the biggest food and beverage products in existence, we gravitated toward the stories that had the most layers and that we felt would truly surprise viewers.
Were you impressed by the stories that emerged from these American companies?
Absolutely. I, like a lot of people, had a surface knowledge of these companies and the men and women behind them, but in our research for the show, there are so many different things that blew our minds and added to our excitement for the project.
Generally speaking, we were impressed and often surprised by the level at which the men and women featured have fundamentally impacted all of our lives and the trajectory of our country.
For example, many may not know that Henry Heinz — in addition to creating one of the most beloved sauces in existence — was one of the grandfathers of factory production, operating one of the first fully-electrified factories in the world and inspiring the assembly line that was later championed by Henry Ford.
Heinz and the others didn’t just change the food industry forever; their contributions helped shape the future of all industry and commerce.
Are you a foodie? Do you love some of these products?
I would definitely consider myself a foodie and have a love for most of the foods featured in the show — I think it’s next to impossible to grow up in America and not have a strong nostalgia attached to at least some of these products. They are your dependable rest stop eats on road trips, the coveted candy bar or soda you craved as a kid, the condiments that accent every summer backyard BBQ, and the favorite cereal that you still eat, just as your parents and grandparents did before you.
How long did the production for this series take?
We initially conceived the idea with HISTORY about a year and a half ago, and I’m excited for viewers to see the final project.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Food That Built America kicks off Sunday, Aug. 11 at 9 p.m. on History. Parts two and three air Aug. 12 and 13. Click here for more information.
