The General Foods Corporation is a well-known name in America due to the amount of cereal that is consumed for breakfast each year. This was not the case in the late 1800’s, but by the turn of the century, cereal was becoming a morning staple.
Marjorie Merriweather Post was the only child of C.W. Post and her mother, Ella Letitia Merriweather. Her Father, C.W. was an entrepreneur and his work revolutionized eating breakfast in America.
At age 27, C.W. Post passed, and Marjorie inherited Postum Cereal Company (Post Cereals). Marjorie Merriweather Post became the wealthiest woman in the United States by inheriting $20M (equivalent to $526M in 2020).
Smart, educated and wealthy, Marjorie gave the other cereal makers a run for their money. While on her yacht in the Caribbean with her first husband, Marjorie found out that the turkey they served for dinner was frozen. Understanding this concept, Marjorie (majority owner of the now, General Foods Corporation) decided to find Clarence Birdseye and purchase his patents and company in 1929. With Birdseye and many other companies under the umbrella of General Foods Corporation, Marjorie began the process of manufacturing foods. This process changed the world.
To learn more about the businesswoman, philanthropist, and innovator, click here.
Fun Fact: Marjorie built Mar-A-Lago as her home from 1924 – 1927 in Palm Beach, Florida.