The company was bought out by Nabisco in 1919. Nabisco introduced the Ritz Cracker in 1934. Looking to compete with the similar Hi Ho cracker made by their competitor Sunshine Biscuits, they tasked an employee, Sydney Stern, to create a name and a marketing plan.

In 1935, at the height of the Great Depression, Stern had one weekend to come up with a marketing gimmick to compete with Sunshine Biscuits' most successful cracker. Inspired by the circular label inside his hat, he debuted a blue circle with a four letter word in yellow lettering: Ritz.

Ritz Crackers Nabisco's Ritz is among the leading cracker brands in the United States. Its namesake cracker contains partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, which is a trans fat that is currently banned domestically and is limited in many other countries like Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, and Denmark.

INGREDIENTS: UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), SOYBEAN AND/OR CANOLA OIL, PALM OIL, SUGAR, SALT, LEAVENING (CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, BAKING SODA), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, SOY LECITHIN, NATURAL FLAVOR.

The origin of cracker is murky. Some sources suggest it came from overseers who commanded slaves. Others say it derives from a Scottish word for boasting.

Crackers are often branded as a nutritious and convenient way to consume a staple food or cereal grain. Crackers can be eaten on their own, but can also accompany other food items such as cheese or meat slices, fruits, dips, or soft spreads such as jam, butter, peanut butter, pâté, or mousse.

The lion and crown Ritz-Carlton logo is a combination of the British royal seal (the crown) and the logo of a financial backer (the lion). This logo was created by Cesar Ritz.

The Ritz-Carlton Logo This logo was created by Cesar Ritz.

Ritz Crackers Its namesake cracker contains partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, which is a trans fat that is currently banned domestically and is limited in many other countries like Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, and Denmark.

The culprit of this ban is the hydrogenated cottonseed oil ingredient in the crackers, which is a type of trans fat. This trans fat is an odorless and colorless oil created in the refinement process of vegetable oil and can be responsible for heart attacks and even death.

Century when they were usually made with saltines. Or water crackers. Although mock apple pie was created during a time when fresh fruit could be expensive.

Stern chose the name 'Ritz', which appealed to individuals enduring the privations of the Great Depression by offering them "a bite of the good life". He also designed the blue circle/yellow lettering logo design, inspired by the round label inside his hat.