Brand Origins
It is the start of a new day: Aunt Jemima is now Pearl Milling Company. Though the Brand is new to store shelves, the name itself has been a part of our story for over 130 years. Pearl Milling Company was a small mill in the bustling town of St. Joseph, Missouri. Using a pearl milling technique, they produced flour, cornmeal, and, beginning in 1889, the famous self-rising pancake mix that would go on to be known as Aunt Jemima. Our pancakes have been bringing smiles to the breakfast table ever since.
Last June, PepsiCo and The Quaker Oats Company made a commitment to change the name and image of Aunt Jemima, recognizing that they do not reflect our core values. While the name on the box has changed, the great tasting products – the “pearl” inside the familiar red box – remains the same, with a mission to create joyful breakfast moments for everyone. We will have future announcements regarding our community impact initiative.
We want to thank everyone who has made us part of their family over the years, and look forward to starting a new chapter as the Pearl Milling Company.
Scroll through the timeline below to learn more about key moments in our brand’s history.
1888
The Pearl Milling Company in St. Joseph, MO was incorporated and produced a range of milled products.
1889
Our famous pancake mix originated at Pearl Milling Company, and was later branded “Aunt Jemima”.
1925
The Quaker Oats Company entered into a contract to purchase the Aunt Jemima brand.
1957
Launch of Aunt Jemima Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix.
1966
Launch of pancake syrup with the campaign, “What took you so long?”
1968-1979
New product launches such as Complete Pancake + Waffle Mix and Lite Syrup.
1989
The brand’s icon was updated.
1991
Launch of new Butter Rich syrup.
2001
PepsiCo acquired The Quaker Oats Company, bringing the Aunt Jemima brand into the PepsiCo portfolio.
2020
Quaker announced it will remove the Aunt Jemima icon from its packaging and change the name of the brand.
2021
Quaker announces new brand name, with new packaging hitting the shelves starting that summer
Aunt Jemima® has a rich history spanning over 130 years. Use the timeline to explore.