General Foods International
Encyclopedia
General Foods International is a subdivision of the Kraft Foods
corporation, based in the United States. General Foods International produces several different flavors of instant coffee
.
Established in the early 1970s as a brand belonging to what was then General Foods
, General Foods International (now the only place where the General Foods name exists) has endured for nearly four decades. As such, it is one of the most recognizable brands of instant coffee. The first three flavors at launch were Cafe Au Lait (later renamed to Cafe Francais), Suisse Mocha, and Cafe Vienna.
Given the recent trend of "coffee culture
," General Foods International has had to direct their product line towards the mainstream market, at the cost of various less popular flavors, most recently, Kahlua Cafe, which was discontinued in 2005. In addition to gearing their productline towards the mainstream, General Foods also must compete with several other brands of instant coffee, ranging from Nescafe
, to the store brand
version, which is less expensive.
Furthermore, Starbucks
and several other large chain coffee corporations have put increased pressure on manufacturers of both instant coffee and traditional bean roasts, by introducing their own products in the supermarket, in addition to their drive-thru chain stores.
"General Foods International Coffees" underwent a name change in late 2005 to simply "General Foods International" in order to accommodate recent additions of non-coffee based beverages (Chai Latte and Vanilla Creme). In 2009, it began to carry a "From the makers of Maxwell House
" hybrid.
During the summer of 2010, this product line was rebranded in some US markets as Maxwell House International Café.
General Foods International also offers a small variety of Sugar Free versions of their more popular flavors.
Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
corporation, based in the United States. General Foods International produces several different flavors of instant coffee
Instant coffee
Instant coffee, also called soluble coffee and coffee powder, is a beverage derived from brewed coffee beans. Instant coffee is commercially prepared by either freeze-drying or spray drying, after which it can be rehydrated...
.
Established in the early 1970s as a brand belonging to what was then General Foods
General Foods
General Foods Corporation was a company whose direct predecessor was established in the USA by Charles William Post as the Postum Cereal Company in 1895. The name General Foods was adopted in 1929, after several corporate acquisitions...
, General Foods International (now the only place where the General Foods name exists) has endured for nearly four decades. As such, it is one of the most recognizable brands of instant coffee. The first three flavors at launch were Cafe Au Lait (later renamed to Cafe Francais), Suisse Mocha, and Cafe Vienna.
Given the recent trend of "coffee culture
Coffee culture
Coffee culture describes a social atmosphere or series of associated social behaviors that depends heavily upon coffee, particularly as a social lubricant. The term also refers to the diffusion and adoption of coffee as a widely consumed stimulant by a culture...
," General Foods International has had to direct their product line towards the mainstream market, at the cost of various less popular flavors, most recently, Kahlua Cafe, which was discontinued in 2005. In addition to gearing their productline towards the mainstream, General Foods also must compete with several other brands of instant coffee, ranging from Nescafe
Nescafé
Nescafé is a brand of instant coffee made by Nestlé. It comes in the form of many different products. The name is a portmanteau of the words "Nestlé" and "café". Nestlé's flagship powdered coffee product was introduced in Switzerland on April 1, 1938 after being developed for seven or eight years...
, to the store brand
Private label
Private label products or services are typically those manufactured or provided by one company for offer under another company's brand. Private label goods and services are available in a wide range of industries from food to cosmetics to web hosting...
version, which is less expensive.
Furthermore, Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
and several other large chain coffee corporations have put increased pressure on manufacturers of both instant coffee and traditional bean roasts, by introducing their own products in the supermarket, in addition to their drive-thru chain stores.
"General Foods International Coffees" underwent a name change in late 2005 to simply "General Foods International" in order to accommodate recent additions of non-coffee based beverages (Chai Latte and Vanilla Creme). In 2009, it began to carry a "From the makers of Maxwell House
Maxwell House
Maxwell House is a brand of coffee manufactured by a like-named division of Kraft Foods. Introduced in 1892, it is named in honor of the Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. For many years until the late 1980s it was the largest-selling coffee in the U.S. and is currently second behind...
" hybrid.
During the summer of 2010, this product line was rebranded in some US markets as Maxwell House International Café.
Current product line
- Cafe Francais
- Cafe Vienna
- Chai Latte
- Creme Caramel
- Dark Mayan Chocolate
- French Vanilla Cafe
- French Vanilla Nut
- Hazelnut Belgian Cafe
- Italian Cappuccino
- Orange Cafe
- Pumpkin Spice
- Peppermint Mocha
- Swiss White Chocolate
- Vanilla Caramel Latté
- Vanilla Creme
- Viennese Chocolate Cafe
- Vanilla Bean Latté
- Suisse Mocha Café
General Foods International also offers a small variety of Sugar Free versions of their more popular flavors.
Sugar free product line
- French Vanilla Sugar Free
- Chai Latte Sugar Free
- Vanilla Creme Sugar Free
- Suisse Mocha Sugar Free
Discontinued flavors
- Amaretto Cafe
- Cafe Vienna Sugar Free
- Double Dutch Chocolate
- Dutch Chocolate Mint
- Irish Mocha Mint
- Irish Cream Cafe
- Kahlua Cafe