The Food That Built the World

Imagine a world where marinara sauce isn't part of the American palate. That was true nearly 60 years ago, when food conglomerate Campbell's kickstarts what will become an Italian-American food revolution.

A cab driver turned ice cream entrepreneur comes up with the idea to mix brand-name candy into high-quality ice cream to create novel flavours. After opening an ice cream shop to share his mix-in creations, his concept skyrockets.

In the late 1800s, two pharmacists 2400km apart race to create healthy, non-alcoholic beverage options, kickstarting the entire soda industry with their breakout hits: Hires Root Beer and Dr Pepper.

A scientist and businessman team up to develop a vitamin C rich war ration for the troops fighting in World War II, which unexpectedly leads to the development of a frozen concentrated orange juice that tastes great.

During the mid-20th century, two unlikely characters find themselves in competition to simplify the lives of homemakers across the country by creating a tasty but easy boxed cake mix.

In the early 1900s, an underestimated confectioner creates the first wrapped penny candy, the Tootsie Roll; an unemployed salesman transforms medicinal hard candy into a fruit-flavoured, multi-pack called Tropical Charms, designed purely for fun.

Will Kellogg is on top of the cereal industry when he meets his match: a young flour mill executive. A decades long war for dominance ensues as Kellogg's and General Mills battle it out.

After being kicked out of the family business by his father, Forrest Mars scratches and claws his way back to create a multi-sector global empire, Mars Inc, a family dynasty which becomes worth $47 billion.

Lunchtime is one of the most enjoyable meals of every kid's day, but before the 1960s it was just another meal.

A Kentucky gas station owner named Harland Sanders develops a new method for making fried chicken, drawing customers from far and wide.

A small-time St. Louis soda maker, Charles Leiper Grigg, takes on Coke and Pepsi by introducing a clear, lemon-lime soda he calls 7-Up. At the same time, two brothers in Tennessee, Ali and Barney Hartman, have their own, called Mountain Dew.

In the 1950s, middle-aged salesman Ray Kroc is drowning in debt when he's inspired by a roadside burger stand he wants to spread nationwide, McDonald's. He creates the modern model of franchising and ignites a fast-food gold rush.