The Vlasic name has become synonymous with Polish-style dill pickles. However, the company was founded by a Croatian immigrant in Detroit in the 1920s.
It’s truly an American success story. An immigrant family, a great idea, a big taste, and a funny stork won their way into the hearts—and stomachs—of generations of hungry consumers.
What does a lovable stork with a Groucho Marx voice have to do with selling pickles? Some say about the same thing a cheese maker has to do with pickles. But, others say that since the national birth rate was dropping at that time and babies were in short supply, concerned Vlasic managers simply offered the stork an opportunity to deliver pickles instead. Whichever explanation you like best, it worked. And while baby booms have come and gone, the Vlasic Stork continues to stay with us as the fun spokes bird of our fun brand.
In 1974, a wisecracking Vlasic Stork flew out of American television screens with the message that crunchy “Vlasic is the best tasting pickle I ever heard!”
The original voice was Ron Masak since replaced by Doug Preis.