Hot cocoa is a wintertime staple and today, there are an abundance of options on store shelves if you're looking for a quick and convenient version. But 66 years ago, one brand would make its debut and become synonymous with instant hot cocoa. This is the story of Swiss Miss.
“Chocolate Scented Ads to Announce Swiss Miss Instant,” Advertising Weekly, September 18, 1961
“Introduce New Hot Chocolate,” The Sheboygan Press, Nov 1, 1961
“New Swiss Flavor Instant Hot Chocolate Will Be Introduced in Appleton,” The Post-Crescent, Nov 4, 1961
“Chocolate Mix Served On Airlines Now at Grocers,” The News Tribune, Sep 18, 1963
“Sanna Firm Changes Name, Has Wide Variety of Products,” Wisconsin State Journal, Jan 21, 1967
“Menomonie, Chicago Dairy Firms Merge,” Leader-Telegram, Jul 7, 1967
“Swiss Chocolate Not Always’s Swiss,” Norris Willatt, UPI via Johnson City Press-Chronicle, Apr 16, 1969
“Firm Keeps Identity, Prospers,” Carl W. Ritter, Copley News Service, The Austin American, Mar 22, 1973
“Swiss Chocolate Companies in Sticky Sales Situation,” Peter Hulm, Reuter via The Montreal Star, Apr 9, 1975
“Did You Know Madison was the Home of Swiss Miss,” Sanna ad, Wisconsin State Journal, Feb 12, 1978
“Sanna Leaves Dairy Business,” The Dunn County News, Aug 27, 1980
“Cornering the Market Would be a Treat for Swiss Chocolate Makers,” Elizabeth Bailey, New York Times Service via News-Press, Mar 12, 1981
“Chocolate is Serious Business, and Swiss Don’t Like Imitators,” Harry Trimborn, Los Angeles Times via The Des Moines Register, Dec 30, 1982
“Sanna Will Market Two New Sugar Free Swiss Miss Products,” The Dunn County News, Jun 15, 1983
“City Sanna Office Closing,” Robert C. Bjorklund, Wisconsin State Journal, Mar 11, 1984
“Cadbury Court Battle,” The Birmingham Post, Oct 7, 1997
“Cadbury Loses Case Over Brand Name,” National Post, Oct 30, 1997
“Butsic: Swiss Miss to Stay Around for Long, Long Time,” Wally Smetana, The Dunn County News, Jun 30, 1993
“The Instant Cocoa Man,” Chris Aadland, Wisconsin State Journal, Feb 9, 2019
“He Poured Genius Into Swiss Miss Cocoa Mix,” Harrison Smith, The Washington Post via Chicago Tribune, Apr 5, 2019