Kraft Mac & Cheese advertising

During the Great Depression Grant Leslie, a St. Louis, Missouri salesman had the idea to sell macaroni pasta and cheese not separately but together as a package. Grant then began attaching grated cheese to boxes of pasta with a rubber band. Soon enough in the year 1937 Kraft introduced their mac and cheese to the public in the U.S. and Canada. Kraft was first introduced under the name of Kraft Dinner in both Canada and the U.S the rationing of milk and dairy products, increased reliance on meatless meals, and finally more women working outside the home. This in turn created a large market and desire for the product, which was considered a substantial meal for families.

That aspect coupled with its shelf life of ten months was a very attractive aspect at a time when many Canadian homes did not have refrigerators. In addition, consumers could receive two boxes of Kraft Mac and cheese for only one food ration stamps Kraft's different packages targeted at children and youth have come with pasta in the shapes of various characters popular with children and even some adults due to the nostalgia aspect some of these characters seen have been, Looney Tunes, Super Mario Bros., and Star Wars.