One of the most popular advertising taglines of all-time has to be this one- Choosy moms choose JIF!  But did you know that JIF wasn't always named that? And, did you know that JIF- as we know it today- is made right here in Kentucky?

The brand dates all the way back to the 1950s. The year was 1955. That's when Procter & Gamble bought Big Top Peanut Butter and its manufacturing facility in Lexington, Kentucky.  For the first couple of years after the acquisition, Big Top tried to compete with the leading peanut butter brands in the nation- Peter Pan (which dates all the way back to 1915) and Skippy (which dates back to 1932). By 1958, Procter & Gamble completely rebranded their peanut butter as JIF and 'creamy' and 'crunchy' versions of their newly retooled product hit the store shelves.

Here's a fascinating look at the early history of JIF, its evolution and its beloved line of peanut butters.

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JIF overtook Skippy and Peter Pan as the most popular brand of peanut butter in the U.S. in the early 1980s. According to a recent USAByNumbers.com survey, it continues to hold down that #1 spot today. Honestly, its popularity even far exceeds our borders. In 1999, JIF became the #1 peanut butter in the entire world.

JIF continues to operate its facility in Lexington, but is now owned by the J.M Smucker Company, which acquired the brand from Procter & Gamble back in 2001.The multi-million dollar manufacturing facility is located on Winchester Road.

Fun fact, Kentucky is also also home to some other leading brands like Kellogg's Pop Tarts and Hot Pockets.

LOOK: Food history from the year you were born

From product innovations to major recalls, Stacker researched what happened in food history every year since 1921, according to news and government sources.
 

Gallery Credit: Joni Sweet

 

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