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Brand origin
United States
Main production
Several countries, incl. Canada

Quaker is an American food brand best known for oats, oatmeal, cereals, grits, rice cakes and snack products. Quaker is ultimately owned by PepsiCo, Inc., through The Quaker Oats Company.

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Updated: 13 September 2026 · Ownership verified: 13 September 2026 ·
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Political donations in the US

PepsiCo gave US$500,000 to Donald Trump's inauguration in January 2025.

The company's political action committee gave 33% to Republican and 19% to Democratic candidates in the 2025 to 2026 election cycle.

Information from the US Federal Election Commission (FEC). Made O'Meter takes no side. Source: FEC · the PAC

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Ownership chain

  1. BrandQuakerUnited States
  2. The Quaker Oats Company
  3. Ultimate ownerPepsiCo, Inc.United States

About Quaker

What is Quaker?

Quaker is a food brand associated with oats, oatmeal, breakfast cereals, grits, rice cakes and snack products. The brand originated in the United States and is operated within PepsiCo's food business. Quaker products are sold in multiple markets, including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The official UK website is quaker.co.uk. The Quaker brand name became associated with packaged oatmeal in the late nineteenth century. Quaker later expanded into cold cereals, convenience oatmeal, snack foods, side dishes and other food categories. PepsiCo currently identifies Quaker among its food and beverage brands. The Quaker Oats Company was headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. After PepsiCo acquired The Quaker Oats Company, the former company became part of PepsiCo's food operations. Quaker Foods North America subsequently focused mainly on breakfast and packaged-food products in the United States and Canada. In 2001, Quaker was reported to have nearly $5 billion in annual sales. The same report described approximately 1,200 workers in the Chicago area and another 10,000 employees worldwide in 2001. These figures referred to the broader Quaker Oats business at that time, rather than only to a single oatmeal product.

Who owns Quaker?

Quaker is ultimately owned by PepsiCo, Inc., according to Made O'Meter's ownership data verified on 13 September 2026. The ownership chain is Quaker, then The Quaker Oats Company, then PepsiCo, Inc. PepsiCo completed its merger with The Quaker Oats Company on 2 August 2001. Under the merger agreement, Quaker shareholders received 2.3 PepsiCo shares for each Quaker share. The transaction was valued at approximately $14 billion and was driven primarily by PepsiCo's interest in the Gatorade brand. The Quaker Oats Company became a PepsiCo division after the transaction. PepsiCo is a publicly listed company. PepsiCo's shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PEP. After the acquisition, Quaker Foods and Beverages operated as a PepsiCo division. PepsiCo assigned Gatorade to its beverage operations and moved some Quaker snack products to other PepsiCo units. The Quaker name remained attached to the oatmeal and other food products sold under the Quaker brand.

Where does Quaker come from?

Quaker originated in Ravenna, Ohio, in 1877. The Quaker Mill Company was founded there and held the Quaker name trademark. The Quaker trademark was registered in 1877 by Henry Parsons Crowell, an Ohio milling-company owner. The registration made Quaker the first breakfast-cereal trademark registered in the United States. In 1881, Henry Parsons Crowell bought the bankrupt Quaker Mill Company in Ravenna and acquired the Quaker brand name. Crowell then developed the name as a packaged oatmeal brand. In 1882, Crowell launched what Quaker describes as the first national magazine advertising program for a breakfast cereal. In 1888, seven major U.S. oatmeal millers joined forces to form the American Cereal Company. The group included Henry Parsons Crowell, Robert Stuart and Ferdinand Schumacher. Crowell joined Stuart and Schumacher in creating the American Cereal Company in 1891. The American Cereal Company changed its name to the Quaker Oats Company in 1901 and reported sales of $16 million that year. The Quaker Oats Company was incorporated in New Jersey in 1901, with headquarters in Chicago, after the combination of several oat-milling businesses. Quaker acquired Mother's Oats in 1911. The acquisition gave Quaker ownership of half of all milling operations east of the Rocky Mountains. Quaker acquired the Aunt Jemima brand in 1925 and entered the pet-food industry in 1942 by purchasing the Ken-L-Ration brand. Quaker introduced the Cap'n Crunch cereal brand in 1963 and acquired the Fisher-Price Toy Company in 1969. In 1983, Quaker acquired Stokely-Van Camp, whose brands included Gatorade. Quaker acquired Snapple Beverage Corporation in 1994 for $1.7 billion, then agreed to sell Snapple to Triarc Companies for $300 million in 1997, about 27 months after the purchase.

What products does Quaker make?

Quaker makes oatmeal, oat-based breakfast products, cereals, grits, rice cakes, granola bars and other packaged foods. Product ranges vary by country and market. Quaker's core products include Old Fashioned Oats, Quick Oats and instant oatmeal products. Quaker also sells oatmeal squares, grits, rice cakes and Chewy granola bars in North American markets. Quaker's wider historical portfolio included Cap'n Crunch and Life cereals, although PepsiCo manages different brands through different operating units. Quaker introduced Quaker Quick Oats in 1922. The product was one of the early convenience products associated with the brand. Quaker also used its packaging to publish recipes. Quaker's history records an oatmeal bread recipe in 1891 and an oat-cake recipe in 1908. The broader Quaker Foods portfolio has included Aunt Jemima syrups and pancake mixes, Rice-A-Roni, Pasta Roni and Near East side dishes. These products were associated with Quaker Foods North America after the PepsiCo acquisition, but not all are sold under the Quaker name. Quaker's historical acquisitions and launches also included Ken-L-Ration pet food, Gatorade through Stokely-Van Camp, Snapple and Cap'n Crunch. These products are not all current Quaker-branded products. Gatorade and Snapple are now managed separately from Quaker within PepsiCo's portfolio.

Why did Pepsi buy Quaker?

PepsiCo bought Quaker primarily to acquire Gatorade, the sports-drink brand owned by Quaker at the time. PepsiCo completed the acquisition on 2 August 2001 in a transaction valued at approximately $14 billion. The acquisition also gave PepsiCo Quaker's established food brands, including oatmeal, cereals, rice cakes and granola bars. Quaker had nearly $5 billion in annual sales in 2001, alongside a substantial workforce in the Chicago area and internationally. After the merger, PepsiCo reorganized the acquired business. Gatorade moved into PepsiCo's beverage operations, while Quaker's breakfast foods remained within PepsiCo's food business. Some snack brands moved to PepsiCo's snack operations, and international activities were assigned to other PepsiCo units. The transaction therefore combined PepsiCo's beverage and snack distribution with Quaker's food and sports-drink portfolio. The main strategic attraction identified in contemporary accounts was Gatorade.

Is Quaker Oats a religious company?

Quaker Oats is not identified as a religious company in the ownership and corporate histories available for the brand. The Quaker name refers to the Religious Society of Friends, but the company was founded as an oat-milling and food business. Henry Parsons Crowell registered the Quaker trademark in 1877 after the Quaker Mill Company was founded in Ravenna, Ohio. The Quaker Oats Company later became a commercial food manufacturer and is now part of PepsiCo, a publicly listed company. The Quaker figure on the packaging is a branding symbol associated with the Quaker name. The available company histories identify the business's founders, mergers, acquisitions and food products, rather than describing Quaker Oats as a religious organization.

Is Quaker oatmeal good for you?

Whether Quaker oatmeal is suitable for a person's diet depends on the specific product and the individual's nutritional needs. Plain oats and flavored instant oatmeal are different products, so their ingredient and nutrition panels should be compared. Quaker sells several forms of oatmeal, including old-fashioned oats, quick oats and instant oatmeal. Plain oat products generally have shorter ingredient lists than flavored varieties, while flavored products can contain additional sweeteners or flavoring ingredients. People managing kidney disease, diabetes, celiac disease or another medical condition should assess the exact product with a qualified health professional. A general statement about Quaker oatmeal cannot apply equally to every product or every diet. The appropriate way to compare Quaker oatmeal products is to check the package for serving size, ingredients, calories, sugars, sodium, fiber and other nutrition information. Recipes and preparation methods can also change the nutritional content of a finished serving.

Is Quaker oatmeal or grits gluten free?

Quaker oatmeal and Quaker grits should not be treated as universally gluten free without checking the exact package and market. Product formulations, labeling and manufacturing controls can differ between products and countries. Oats are naturally different from wheat, rye and barley, but cross-contact can occur during growing, transport, milling or manufacturing. Consumers who must avoid gluten should use the package's current gluten-free statement and ingredient information rather than relying only on the Quaker name. Quaker sells multiple oatmeal and grits products, including flavored and convenience varieties. Added ingredients can change whether a particular product meets a consumer's dietary requirements. Consumers with celiac disease or a medically diagnosed gluten-related condition should follow the advice of their healthcare professional and use products that meet their required labeling standard.

Has Quaker had a food recall?

The Quaker Oats Company expanded a recall in January 2024 for specific cereals, bars and snacks because of possible Salmonella contamination. The recall applied to listed products with specified sizes, UPC codes and best-before dates, not automatically to every Quaker product. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported that the recalled products were sold throughout the 50 United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and Saipan. Consumers were instructed to check the recall list and dispose of affected products. The FDA later reported that the recall had been completed and terminated. Consumers should still check current package information and official food-safety notices when evaluating a particular product, because recall status applies to specific lots or products rather than an entire brand.

Where is Quaker made and sold?

Quaker products are made and sold through PepsiCo's food operations, with markets and manufacturing locations varying by product. The Quaker Oats Company was headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and PepsiCo's Quaker operations have included facilities in the United States and Canada. PepsiCo Canada operates Quaker plants in Trenton, Ontario, and Peterborough, Ontario. Quaker Foods North America has focused primarily on the United States and Canada since PepsiCo reorganized the former Quaker business after the 2001 merger. Quaker is also sold in the United Kingdom, where the official website is quaker.co.uk. Product names, formulations, packaging and availability can differ between the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other markets. A product's package identifies the applicable ingredients, nutrition information, manufacturer or distributor and market-specific consumer information. Those details are more precise than treating all Quaker products as though they were made at one location.

Frequently asked questions about Quaker

Who owns Quaker Oats Company now?

The Quaker Oats Company is ultimately owned by PepsiCo, Inc. PepsiCo completed its merger with The Quaker Oats Company on 2 August 2001, and the former Quaker company became part of PepsiCo's food business.

Who owns Quaker State oil?

Quaker State oil is a different product category from Quaker oatmeal. The Quaker Oats ownership information does not establish ownership of the Quaker State motor-oil brand, so the two names should not be treated as the same company.

Who owns Quaker Steak and Lube?

Quaker Steak and Lube is a restaurant brand and is separate from Quaker Oats. PepsiCo's ownership of Quaker Oats does not establish ownership of Quaker Steak and Lube.

Is Quaker Steak and Lube a chain?

Quaker Steak and Lube is a restaurant brand, not an oatmeal or cereal business. The Quaker Oats ownership history does not describe the restaurant's locations, closures or corporate ownership.

Is Quaker Oats gluten free?

Not every Quaker oatmeal product should be assumed to be gluten free. Consumers who need to avoid gluten should check the exact package for its current ingredients and gluten-free labeling.

Is Quaker instant oatmeal healthy?

Quaker instant oatmeal products differ by flavor and formulation, so the answer depends on the specific product. Compare the package's serving size, added sugars, sodium, fiber and ingredient list rather than treating all instant oatmeal as one product.

Is Quaker Oats good for kidneys?

Whether a Quaker oats product fits a kidney-conscious diet depends on the person's kidney function, treatment and dietary restrictions. The exact product's sodium, potassium, phosphorus and other nutrition information should be reviewed with a qualified healthcare professional.

What is the Quaker parrot?

The Quaker parrot is a bird species and is unrelated to Quaker Oats. The shared word refers to different subjects, so information about the bird does not describe the food brand or its ownership.

Sources: pepsico.com: quaker oats history 150 years innovation nutrition, pepsico.com: quaker celebrates 100th anniversary of iconic oats canister, quakeroats.com, encyclopedia.com: quaker foods north america, en.wikipedia.org, fda.gov, prnewswire.com, pepsico.com: the quaker oats company aligns quaker foods snacks total portfolio with juniper park, britannica.com: Quaker Oats Company, investopedia.com, ebsco.com, britannica.com: 486034, liquisearch.com, historyoasis.com, encyclopedia.com: quaker oats co, scribd.com, ia803109.us.archive.org, latimes.com, sec.gov

Sources: en.wikipedia.org: Quaker Oats Company, en.wikipedia.org: PepsiCo

Ownership data is compiled from public sources and verified where possible. Spotted an error? Suggest a correction below.

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