Wonder Bread's Meteoric Rise, Fall, and Return

Wonder Bread has had a turbulent history, starting out as a sensation before it nearly came to a sudden end a decade ago when the brand briefly disappeared from stores.

On May 21, 1921, the Taggart Baking Company unveiled Wonder Bread through a mysterious ad campaign. The public reception was sensational.

The uniformity achieved by mass-producing foods was seen as an indication of quality. In 1930, Wonder Bread began offering sliced bread, which added to its popularity.

The public view of Wonder Bread began to turn at the end of the 20th century, when concerns over processed foods were on the rise, and an emphasis was put on healthy eating.

This forced Wonder Bread to declare bankruptcy in 2012, and production halted. Then, in 2013, Flower Foods saved Wonder Bread by buying it for $360 million.

Wonder Bread is back in stores again now, but it has never been able to recapture the same sense of wonder it once had.