Philadelphia, PA - It’s impossible to visit Philadelphia and not taste some of the city’s signature foods. Philly’s flavors are so universally craved that some companies ship classics to your door. No matter where you live, though, you’re sure to find a brand bred with brotherly love in your local supermarket. The following is a list of well-known food companies that have their roots in the Philadelphia region.
Rosati Ice – America’s oldest Italian ice company, started in Sam Rosati’s West Philadelphia home basement. In 1912, the so-called “King of Water Ice” used to hand crank his ices and sell them from horse-drawn carriages throughout the city. Fast forward 106 years, and Rosati Ice is available nationwide in Acme, Weis Markets, United Supermarkets, and school cafeterias. Rosati’s scoop shop at the company’s Clifton Heights, Pa., headquarters also remains open.
Campbell’s – The chicken soup you crave when sick comes from across the river. Camden, N.J., is the birthplace of Campbell Soup Company. 1869, Joseph Campbell and Abraham Anderson formed the business and opened their first plant. It would be another 42 years before Campbell’s soups received national distribution. Campbell’s may now be a household name, but its world headquarters are still in good ol’ Camden.
Dietz & Watson – Is it truly a Philadelphia sub if it’s not made with Dietz & Watson deli meat? Gottlieb Dietz and Walter Watson teamed up to create their namesake company in 1939 when Dietz purchased the Watson Meat Company. Dietz & Watson started along the Delaware River, next to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. The company’s 1975 move to its headquarters in Northeast Philadelphia allowed for significant expansion. Dietz & Watson’s premium meats and artisan cheeses are available at deli counters in every corner of the country.
Tastykake – Tasty Baking Company got its start in Philadelphia in 1914. Philip Baur, the son of a Pittsburgh bakery owner, and Herbert Morris spent days searching Philly’s bustling streets for the perfect building. They found it on Sedgley Avenue in Germantown. The individually wrapped snack cakes, or Tastykakes, were delivered by horse and wagon in the early days, just like the first Rosati water ice. By the 1980s, Tastykakes had left a sweet impression well beyond Philly, but the company still calls the city home.