Margaret Rudkin
Encyclopedia
Margaret Rudkin (September 14, 1897 – June 1, 1967), of Fairfield
, Connecticut
, was the founder of Pepperidge Farm
.
Born in New York City
, she was the eldest of five children of Joseph and Margaret "Healey" Fogarty. She was taught to cook by her grandmother, who started her off with cakes and biscuits. She moved to Long Island when she was 12. She graduated valedictorian
from her high school; worked as a teller in a bank, and in 1919 got a job with McClure Jones and Co., where she met her future husband. She married Henry Albert Rudkin on April 8, 1923, and together they had three sons. In 1926 they purchased land in Fairfield, built a home and called the estate Pepperidge Farm after the pepperidge tree
"Nyssa sylvatica". Although fairly well off, they suffered somewhat during the Great Depression
and made ends meet by selling apples and turkeys.
Margaret Rudkin was inspired to found Pepperidge Farm due to her son Mark's asthma, which prevented him from eating the town's bread. Rudkin was devastated that her son couldn't enjoy the bread, which made up a many of the town's sweets, so she decided she would create a non-asthmatic bread for him. Bread, being the foundation of Rudkin's family tree, was no secret to Rudkin and within 5 days she created her first product, a whole wheat bread
. After offering it to the local doctor who immediately ordered it to sell to his patients, Rudkin was soon selling it in her town. Four months later she was selling it in New York with her husband as delivery man. Soon she was distributing her bread (both whole wheat and white loaves) across the country.
Within three years the endeavor had outgrown the small farm bakery and a large commercial bakery was opened in Norwalk
on July 4, 1947. Although World War II
caused problems due to rationing, the bakery was producing 50,000 loaves a week in 1948.
By 1950 Rudkin was appearing in commercials on television. At the same time, under her management the bakery was expanding into other products, including the Goldfish
snack. In 1961 she sold the business to the Campbell Soup Company
and became a director of that company.
Although having sold Pepperidge Farm, she still ran the company until her retirement in 1966. Margaret Rudkin died in 1967 at the age of 69. According to June 2, 1967, article in the New York Times, she was survived by her three sons. Her husband had died the year before. Her son Mark became a landscape architect known for working on famous gardens in France, such as the Jardins du Nouveau Monde
.
Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, was the founder of Pepperidge Farm
Pepperidge Farm
Pepperidge Farm is a commercial bakery in the U.S. founded in 1937 by Margaret Rudkin, who named the brand after her family's property in Fairfield, Connecticut, which in turn was named for the pepperidge tree, Nyssa sylvatica. Since 1961, the company has been owned by the Campbell Soup Company...
.
Born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, she was the eldest of five children of Joseph and Margaret "Healey" Fogarty. She was taught to cook by her grandmother, who started her off with cakes and biscuits. She moved to Long Island when she was 12. She graduated valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
from her high school; worked as a teller in a bank, and in 1919 got a job with McClure Jones and Co., where she met her future husband. She married Henry Albert Rudkin on April 8, 1923, and together they had three sons. In 1926 they purchased land in Fairfield, built a home and called the estate Pepperidge Farm after the pepperidge tree
Black Tupelo
Nyssa sylvatica, commonly known as black tupelo, tupelo, or black gum, is a medium-sized deciduous tree native to eastern North America from New England and southern Ontario south to central Florida and eastern Texas, as well as Mexico.-Names:Nyssa sylvaticas genus name refers to a Greek water...
"Nyssa sylvatica". Although fairly well off, they suffered somewhat during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and made ends meet by selling apples and turkeys.
Margaret Rudkin was inspired to found Pepperidge Farm due to her son Mark's asthma, which prevented him from eating the town's bread. Rudkin was devastated that her son couldn't enjoy the bread, which made up a many of the town's sweets, so she decided she would create a non-asthmatic bread for him. Bread, being the foundation of Rudkin's family tree, was no secret to Rudkin and within 5 days she created her first product, a whole wheat bread
Whole wheat bread
Whole wheat bread is a type of bread that is made using flour which is partly or entirely made from whole or almost whole wheat grains, see whole wheat flour and whole grain. It is one kind of brown bread. Synonyms or near-synonyms for whole wheat bread elsewhere in the world are whole grain bread...
. After offering it to the local doctor who immediately ordered it to sell to his patients, Rudkin was soon selling it in her town. Four months later she was selling it in New York with her husband as delivery man. Soon she was distributing her bread (both whole wheat and white loaves) across the country.
Within three years the endeavor had outgrown the small farm bakery and a large commercial bakery was opened in Norwalk
Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
on July 4, 1947. Although World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
caused problems due to rationing, the bakery was producing 50,000 loaves a week in 1948.
By 1950 Rudkin was appearing in commercials on television. At the same time, under her management the bakery was expanding into other products, including the Goldfish
Goldfish (snack)
Goldfish are snack crackers manufactured by Pepperidge Farm, a division of the Campbell Soup Company. The crackers come in several flavors, and since 1997, the crackers have small imprints of an eye and a smile and some wink at you...
snack. In 1961 she sold the business to the Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company , also known as Campbell's, is an American producer of canned soups and related products. Campbell's products are sold in 120 countries around the world. It is headquartered in Camden, New Jersey...
and became a director of that company.
Although having sold Pepperidge Farm, she still ran the company until her retirement in 1966. Margaret Rudkin died in 1967 at the age of 69. According to June 2, 1967, article in the New York Times, she was survived by her three sons. Her husband had died the year before. Her son Mark became a landscape architect known for working on famous gardens in France, such as the Jardins du Nouveau Monde
Jardins du Nouveau Monde
The Jardins du Nouveau Monde are gardens and a small arboretum containing plants from the Western Hemisphere located on the grounds of the Château de Blérancourt, now the Musée national de la Coopération Franco-américaine, in Blérancourt, Aisne, France.The gardens were established on the site of...
.