Kool-Aid History - Hastings Museum

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Hey, Kool-Aid! Most everyone knows this famous phrase and the jovial red pitcher, but do you know where it all started? Explore the story behind this iconic drink, from a small town entrepreneur’s dream to the most successful powdered soft drink mix sold today.

Discover the full history with the official Kool-Aid book.

Written by Curator of Collections: Teresa Kreutzer-Hodson

1889

Edwin Elijah Perkins is born in Lewis, Iowa.

1893

The Perkins family moves to Furnas County, Nebraska.

1900

Edwin’s father buys a general store in Hendley and the family moves to town.

1911

Edwin begins to dabble in establishing a business.

1918

Nix-O-Tine becomes Edwin’s first highly successful product while he marries his long-time sweetheart Kitty Shoemaker.

1920

Edwin moves to Hastings, Nebraska to be closer to distribution routes and expands his product line he later calls Onor-Maid.

1927

Inspired by the product Jell-O®, Edwin lands on a new product to replace Fruit Smack.  He named the product Kool-Ade.

1931

Edwin moved his company, now known as Perkins Products Company to Chicago, Illinois.

1934

The spelling of the increasingly popular drink mix is changed to Kool-Aid.

1947

The first Kool-Aid bottling franchise was established in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

1953

General Foods Corporation buys Perkins Products Company, including Kool-Aid.

1957

Marvin Potts creates a smiling face pitcher as a new brand image for Kool-Aid.

1961

Edwin Perkins passes away and is interred at Parkview Cemetery in Hastings, Nebraska.

1964

Pre-sweetened Kool-Aid became available with Bugs Bunny as the spokes character.

1975

Kool-Aid Man breaks onto America’s televisions.

1977

Edwin is joined in death by his wife, best friend, and business partner, Kitty.

1989

General Foods merges with Kraft to become Kraft General Foods.

1997

Kool-Aid Days is started in Hastings, Nebraska to celebrate the invention of Kool-Aid.

2010

Kraft Foods, Inc. ends the premiums program for Kool-Aid.

2015

H.J. Heinz Company merged with Kraft Foods, Inc. to become Kraft-Heinz Company.

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