Cheez-It

Cheez-It is a brand of cheese crackers manufactured by Kellanova through its Sunshine Biscuits division. Approximately 26 by, the square crackers are made with wheat flour, vegetable oil, cheese, skim milk, salt, and spices.

History

The history of Cheez-It crackers began in 1907, when Weston Green founded the Green & Green Company in Dayton, Ohio.[1] Green's company produced a variety of baked snack foods such as Dayton crackers, graham crackers, gingersnaps, and, during World War I, hardtack. On March 31, 1921, Green introduced Cheez-It crackers, commonly called Cheez-Its, as a new product. The company marketed the cracker as a "baked rarebit", a reference to a dish of melted cheese over toast. On May 23, 1921, the first Cheez-It logo was submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.[1][2][3][4]

In the early 1930s, the Kansas City-based Sunshine Biscuits (which was known as the Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company until 1947) acquired the Green & Green Company, and with it came the Cheez-It cracker. Sunshine Biscuits expanded the distribution and popularity of Cheez-It crackers across the country. In 1996, Keebler acquired Sunshine Biscuits, and in 2001, Kellogg's acquired Keebler, bringing Cheez-It crackers under its umbrella.[4][5] In late 2023, Kellogg's spun off its North American cereal division as WK Kellogg Co. The company's snack food business, including Cheez-It, became part of the renamed Kellanova.[6][7] On August 14, 2024, Kellanova announced Mars Inc., has entered into an agreement to acquire the Kellanova brand.[8] The deal closed in late 2025.[9]

Cheez-Its were officially launched in Canada in January 2020,[10][11] as well as Australia in April 2024.[12] Ireland and the United Kingdom followed in September 2024.[13][14]

Cracker

Cheez-It crackers are 26 by rectangles, though they are often believed to be square shaped.[15] Cheez-It crackers are made with actual cheese, and are marketed by Kellogg's as such.[16]

Varieties

The original Cheez-It was the only product available until the 1980s; since then, there have been over 50 different varieties of Cheez-It flavors and products, including:[17]

• Black Pepper Cheddar
• Buffalo Wing
• Cheddar Jack
• Duoz Sharp Cheddar & Parmesan
• Duoz Bacon & Cheddar
• Duoz Jalapeño & Cheddar Jack
• Duoz Pesto and Mozzarella
• Extra Toasty
• Extra Toasty Cheddar Jack
• Extra Big
• Extra Cheesy
• Extra Crunchy Bold Cheddar
• Gluten-free[18]
• Grooves Bold Cheddar
• Grooves Sharp White Cheddar
• Grooves Zesty Cheddar Ranch
• Hot & Spicy (without Tabasco sauce)
• Italian Four Cheese
• Original
• Pepper Jack
• Puff'd Double Cheese
• Puff'd White Cheddar
• Puff'd Cheddar Jack
• Puff'd Cheese Pizza
• Reduced Fat Original
• Smoked Cheddar
• Smoked Gouda
• Snack Mix Original
• Snack Mix Double Cheese
• Snap'd Cheddar Sour Cream & Onion
• Snap'd Double Cheese
• Snap'd Extra Crunchy Margherita Pizza
• Snap'd Extra Crunchy Sharp White Cheddar
• Snap'd Honey Barbecue
• Snap'd Sour Cream & Onion
• White Cheddar
• Whole Grain

See also

• Cheese Nips, a former competing brand of cheese cracker
• Cheez-It Bowl (2018–2019), sponsored by Cheez-It and played in Arizona in 2018 and 2019
• Cheez-It Bowl (2020–2022), sponsored by Cheez-It and played in Florida from 2020 through 2022
• Citrus Bowl, played in Florida and sponsored by Cheez-It starting with the January 2023 edition

External links