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Classic Michigan Food and Drinks: The Stories behind the Brands
Michigan is home to an amazing array of food and drink brands, each with a fascinating story behind it.
Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals like Kellogg's and Post changed how the world eats, and Gerber first made baby food commercially available. But the Wolverine State is bursting with many other notable edibles, such as Faygo, American Spoon, Jiffy, Sanders and Vernors. Better Made uses Michigan potatoes for its chips. Fudge, pasties and anything made with cherries are also local standards. Others are gone but not forgotten, like Awrey's and Twin Pines.
Authors Gail Offen and Jon Milan explore the history and stories behind all of these and many, many more.
Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals like Kellogg's and Post changed how the world eats, and Gerber first made baby food commercially available. But the Wolverine State is bursting with many other notable edibles, such as Faygo, American Spoon, Jiffy, Sanders and Vernors. Better Made uses Michigan potatoes for its chips. Fudge, pasties and anything made with cherries are also local standards. Others are gone but not forgotten, like Awrey's and Twin Pines.
Authors Gail Offen and Jon Milan explore the history and stories behind all of these and many, many more.
224 pages, Paperback
Published November 12, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 20, 2025
This is a fun and relatively quick read about many iconic and not-so-well-known food and beverage companies throughout Michigan. The authors do a good job of not just honing in on the Detroit area, which would be easy to do given the population density there as compared to most of the rest of the state. They travel all across both peninsulas, stopping at establishments that are locally known, famous throughout the state, and some that have national recognition.
While I was disappointed that the local candy store in my hometown was not included (which I made sure to point out to the nice authors at the book signing and discussion that I attended earlier this year!) I really enjoyed the depth and variety of the types of businesses that were featured. Everything from meats to coffee to ice cream to candies to popcorn to fruits to spices were discussed. The authors clearly love their occupation, and who wouldn’t when you get drive around getting free samples of goodies and tours of historic facilities? The passion shows, and it is reflected in the quality of the book.
One sad thing to note is how many of the businesses covered have been bought out by corporate conglomerates over the years. A few of the businesses spotlighted have even recently closed down, or switched to just doing mail-order only. And many of the larger companies, such as Kellogg’s, no longer offer factory tours. Given that, it is nice to see so many of these local businesses still going strong thanks to a passionate person or couple who care about quality and also the relationships formed within the communities that they share.
While I was disappointed that the local candy store in my hometown was not included (which I made sure to point out to the nice authors at the book signing and discussion that I attended earlier this year!) I really enjoyed the depth and variety of the types of businesses that were featured. Everything from meats to coffee to ice cream to candies to popcorn to fruits to spices were discussed. The authors clearly love their occupation, and who wouldn’t when you get drive around getting free samples of goodies and tours of historic facilities? The passion shows, and it is reflected in the quality of the book.
One sad thing to note is how many of the businesses covered have been bought out by corporate conglomerates over the years. A few of the businesses spotlighted have even recently closed down, or switched to just doing mail-order only. And many of the larger companies, such as Kellogg’s, no longer offer factory tours. Given that, it is nice to see so many of these local businesses still going strong thanks to a passionate person or couple who care about quality and also the relationships formed within the communities that they share.
August 11, 2025
What a great way to learn about Michigan food brands. How they got started and what has happened along the way.
June 30, 2025
An interesting book about food and drink from Michigan.
March 24, 2025
I purchased John Milan's Classic Michigan Food and Drinks: The Stories Behind the Brands at a local books and authors fair. Jon had a wonderful display of some of the foods in his book including Grape-Nuts cereal (my husband's favorite), and family favorites Velvet Peanut Butter and cornbread Jiffy Mix.
Faygo, Town Club, and Vernors pop (soda, to translate for non-Michiganders) are local brands I grew up with. In fact, we used to haul Vernor's back from Michigan to Philly when we lived there, and brought extra for a friend who enjoyed it when they lived in the Midwest.
Michigan is famous for fudge and pasties, and the books shares all the major sources. Nostalgic favorites Sanders chocolate and Bumpy Cake can be found in these pages. Jon includes a local family favorite--Ray's Ice Cream.
You may not know that Gerber's baby food is a Michigan product. We prefer to buy Pioneer sugar made from Michigan sugar beets in Bay City. In fact, reading this book I realize how many local products we buy. Vlasic and McClure's pickles. Guernsey milk. Grand Traverse Pies.
Battle Creek is the Cereal Capital of the world, home to Post and Kellogg's. Detroit has given us Ball Park Franks, Kowalski, Koegel, and Dearborn processed meats, sausages, brats, and the hot dogs that are necessary for the coney dogs that have been a Detroit staple for over a hundred years.
One retailer in the book I have heard of and want to visit is Ackroyd's Scottish foods.
An entertaining book that will whet your appetite
Faygo, Town Club, and Vernors pop (soda, to translate for non-Michiganders) are local brands I grew up with. In fact, we used to haul Vernor's back from Michigan to Philly when we lived there, and brought extra for a friend who enjoyed it when they lived in the Midwest.
Michigan is famous for fudge and pasties, and the books shares all the major sources. Nostalgic favorites Sanders chocolate and Bumpy Cake can be found in these pages. Jon includes a local family favorite--Ray's Ice Cream.
You may not know that Gerber's baby food is a Michigan product. We prefer to buy Pioneer sugar made from Michigan sugar beets in Bay City. In fact, reading this book I realize how many local products we buy. Vlasic and McClure's pickles. Guernsey milk. Grand Traverse Pies.
Battle Creek is the Cereal Capital of the world, home to Post and Kellogg's. Detroit has given us Ball Park Franks, Kowalski, Koegel, and Dearborn processed meats, sausages, brats, and the hot dogs that are necessary for the coney dogs that have been a Detroit staple for over a hundred years.
One retailer in the book I have heard of and want to visit is Ackroyd's Scottish foods.
An entertaining book that will whet your appetite
February 25, 2025
As a Michigander, I love to read about the history of our state. Classic Michigan Food and Drinks is a wonderful book about the famous yummies that were, or still are, made in Michigan. I was born and raised in Michigan, still residing in the center of the Lower Peninsula, and there are a few brands that I wasn't familiar with in this book. I love the historical factor and the bridge to the present represented in Classic Michigan Food and Drinks. I'm happy to include the paperback I received as a review copy on my bookshelf.
And have you really lived if you haven't tried a Faygo at least once?!
And have you really lived if you haven't tried a Faygo at least once?!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews