Folgers Coffee is a renowned brand of ground coffee, instant and pods that is produced in the United States and sold in various countries around the world. It is part of the food and beverage division of The J. M. Smucker Company.
The story of Folgers Coffee began with James Folger, who at the age of 14, traveled to San Francisco with his two brothers from Nantucket in search of gold after a big fire destroyed their family's livelihood. While his brothers went to the mines, James stayed behind and got a job at The Pioneer Steam Coffee and Spice Mills. In 1850, he founded his own coffee company which would eventually become Folgers Coffee. In July 1969, the heiress of Fortune Folger, Abigail Folger, was looking after the house of her friends, Hollywood actress Sharon Tate and filmmaker Roman Polanski. Folgers Coffee has been reintroducing a new generation of coffee drinkers with a cutting-edge advertising campaign launched on Monday. People know that the iconic coffee brand, launched in 1850, is the “best part of waking up”.
To define exactly why this is the case, Folgers has gotten rid of its traditional look to show a fresher attitude. The clip begins with a woman looking for Folgers in the grocery store, while Folgers' famous jingle, “The Best Part of Waking Up”, which first debuted in 1984, plays in the background. The ad ends on the streets of New Orleans, where Nola born musician Trombone Shorty runs a music band. The clip is set with the song “Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett, which sets the tone for the energetic and rule-breaking atmosphere of Folgers drinkers. A 1985 Folgers TV ad, Peter Comes Home, was particularly associated with the Christmas holidays. You may have already known that the founder of Folgers café, James Folger, was related to the famous inventor, postmaster and diplomat Benjamin Franklin through Franklin's grandfather, Peter Folger (via HuffPost).
And like any famous brand, there are many fascinating stories that are hidden behind the Folgers Coffee label. Folgers Instant was launched in 1953 but later discontinued as it did not live up to customer expectations. On the night of August 8th 1969, her followers took the lives of Sharon Tate; Abigail Folger; Polish writer Wojciech Frykowsk; and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring (via Insider). So for the tenth anniversary of the announcement, GQ spoke to the people involved in its creation and those who pushed it online to bring you the definitive oral history of Folgers's incest announcement. Olson, a Swedish neighbor played by Virginia Christine who always recommended a cup of Folgers coffee for the characters in the commercial. Don't miss your daily dose of breaking news, latest work tips and comments.
