PepsiCo Inc. announced the debut of Pearl Milling Company, the new name of the pancake mix and syrup varieties previously sold under the Aunt Jemima brand. Pearl Milling Co.-branded pancake mixes, syrups, cornmeal, flour and grits will start to arrive June.
The renamed product line will offer people all their favorite pancake mix and syrup varieties in the same familiar red packaging previously found under the Aunt Jemima brand. Products will continue to be available under the Aunt Jemima name without the character image until June.
Though new to store shelves, Pearl Milling Co. was founded in 1888 in St. Joseph, MO, and was the originator of the iconic self-rising pancake mix that would later become known as Aunt Jemima.
The Quaker Oats Co. signed the contract to purchase the Aunt Jemima brand in 1925. It updated its image over the years in a manner intended to remove racial stereotypes that dated back to the brand origins.
In June 2020, the company announced it was transitioning from the Aunt Jemima name and likeness on packaging and pledged a $5 million commitment to support the Black community.
