Skip to Main Content

The Food That Built America

The Food That Built America

Watch Free on Pluto TV
Stream Anytime, Anywhere

Documentary

TV-PG

4 Seasons

45 minutes

For generations of Americans, food titans like Henry Heinz, Milton Hershey, John and Will Kellogg, C.W. Post and the McDonald brothers have literally been household names, but you don't know their stories.

Season 2, 16 Episodes

In the 1950s, two enterprising brothers from Wichita, Kansas aim to build their restaurant, Pizza Hut, into a franchise empire by boldly introducing America to a little-known Italian dish--pizza.

The Chocolate Rush,

In 1919, Milton Hershey is king of the chocolate business. But everything changes when in a Post WW1 sugar price drop, a rush of competitors spring up, including his former employee HB Reese, who will go on to create the best-selling candy on the planet.

The Kings of Burgers,

In the 1950s, Ray Kroc franchises McDonald's nationwide, but right behind Kroc a wave of other entrepreneurs try to cash in on the fast food restaurant craze.

American Cheese,

At the turn of the 20th century, James Kraft challenges thousands of years of cheese-making tradition and forever alters the dairy industry with his new cheese innovation.

In the 1970s, one major cola brand launches a blind taste test marketing plan that takes direct aim at their biggest competitor.

Chip Dynasties,

Herman Lay takes regional and small-time chips business to a national scale with his cutting-edge sales techniques and world-changing packaging technology, while a rival innovator invents a new kind of snack chip that will challenge Lay's crown.

Adolphus Green creates one of the most iconic cookie companies in history, and revolutionize packaging. But when his former partners strike back with their signature invention, Green retaliates with the help of Milton Hershey.

Soup of the Century,

When a chemist begins working at the Joseph A. Campbell preserve company, he invents a condensed soup that brings this rare luxury to the nation for the first time.

Godfathers of Fast Food,

A short order chef invents the hamburger bun and engineers a new way of making a burger faster than ever before. Meanwhile, Nathan Handwerker invests his life savings into a hot dog stand at Coney Island.

Gilbert Swanson inherits his father's frozen turkey company and partners with a food chemist to innovate a revolutionary dinner that Americans can heat up at home.

Ice Cream Empires,

A young boy accidentally discovers a frozen treat on a stick, and grows up to bring an endearing classic to the world. Plus, a candy store owner radically re-invents ice cream and launches the first ever ice cream truck.

A Game of Chicken,

In the 1970s, Ray Kroc is far ahead of the competition. But when a burger chain claiming to be king poaches his third-highest ranking executive, Don Smith, it's war.

When the Chips are Down,

As C.E. Doolin and Herman Lay are out to prove the potential of the chips business in the 1950s, their success inspires one of the biggest companies in the world to enter the chip business.

The Rise of a Rival,

When candy company president Charles Guth gets shafted by a Cola salesman, he decides to buy a bankrupt rival company and go to war with the supplier who wronged him and its new CEO.

William Wrigley stumbles upon a new product that will kickstart a revolution across industries, but not before sparking a life-long rivalry.

Breakfast Barons,

Dr. John Kellogg and his brother start a revolution in breakfast, while rival C.W. Post takes direct aim at an empire of his own. And the creation of an iconic food comes at a cost.

You Could Also Try

You Could Also Try

How Disney Built America

The Toys That Built America

The Engineering That Built The World

The Cars That Made America

Ford: The Man and the Machine

The Search for General Tso

The City that Sold America

Food's Greatest Hits

Details

The Food That Built America

Documentary

TV-PG

4 Seasons

45 minutes

For generations of Americans, food titans like Henry Heinz, Milton Hershey, John and Will Kellogg, C.W. Post and the McDonald brothers have literally been household names, but you don't know their stories.

Watch Free TV Shows

Watch free TV shows, from exciting new releases to timeless classics. Whether you’re into gripping crime shows, fan-favorite sitcoms, reality TV, or acclaimed dramas, watch free full seasons of TV shows On Demand anytime, anywhere.