5 Surprising Locations Where Your Ritz Crackers Are Made (Including A New 2024 Factory Line)
For decades, the buttery, lightly salted crunch of a Ritz Cracker has been a staple in pantries across North America and the world. While the iconic snack feels as American as apple pie, the actual manufacturing process is a complex, multi-national operation managed by a global food giant. As of today, December 14, 2025, the production of your favorite cracker is centered in a few massive, high-tech facilities, with one key expansion recently announced in the United States.
The short answer to "where are Ritz Crackers made" is that they are primarily produced in the United States by Nabisco, a subsidiary of Mondelēz International, Inc. However, the exact location is not a single factory but a network of production sites spanning North America. This network includes the largest bakery in the world and a new, dedicated production line coming online to meet soaring consumer demand.
The Global Network: Who Owns and Manufactures Ritz Crackers?
To truly understand where Ritz Crackers are made, you must first know the corporate entity responsible for their production and distribution. The brand has a long, storied history under the Nabisco name, but its current ownership is part of a much larger, international conglomerate.
Nabisco: The Original Baker
The Ritz Cracker brand was first introduced by Nabisco (National Biscuit Company) in 1934, during the height of the Great Depression. The goal was to offer an "affordable luxury"—a cracker that evoked the high-class feel of the Ritz-Carlton hotel, but was accessible to everyone. The crackers were an instant success, debuting first in Philadelphia and Baltimore before a rapid national expansion in 1935.
Mondelēz International: The Current Owner
Today, Ritz Crackers is a flagship brand of Mondelēz International, Inc., an American multinational confectionery, food, and beverage holding company. Mondelēz acquired the brand after Kraft bought Nabisco in 2000 and subsequently spun off its global grocery business in 2012. This ownership structure means that the Ritz crackers you buy are made in facilities that produce a wide range of popular Mondelēz International brands, including Oreo cookies, Chips Ahoy!, and Triscuit crackers.
The company maintains a vast production network, but the primary manufacturing centers for the classic Ritz Cracker are concentrated in North America.
The 3 Primary Manufacturing Locations for Ritz Crackers
While Mondelēz International owns and operates numerous facilities globally, the majority of Ritz Crackers sold in the United States and Canada come from a few key bakeries. These plants are marvels of modern food manufacturing, capable of producing hundreds of thousands of crackers per day.
1. Chicago, Illinois: The World’s Largest Bakery
The most significant manufacturing hub for Ritz Crackers is the massive Nabisco bakery located in Chicago, Illinois, at 7300 S. Kedzie Avenue.
- Size and Scale: This facility is reportedly the largest bakery in the world, spanning an incredible 1.8 million square feet (170,000 m²).
- Production Volume: The Chicago plant employs over 1,200 workers and is responsible for producing not only Ritz Crackers but also other Nabisco staples like Oreo cookies, Belvita, and Triscuit crackers.
- The Core of US Supply: For many years, this Chicago facility has been the backbone of American Ritz Cracker production, ensuring a steady supply of the golden, buttery snack across the country.
2. Henrico, Virginia: The 2024 Expansion Line (Fresh Update)
In a significant and recent development, Mondelēz International has committed to expanding its manufacturing capacity for Ritz Crackers on the East Coast.
- New Production Line: The company is investing a reported $40 million to expand its Nabisco biscuit plant in Henrico, Virginia.
- Purpose: This investment is specifically for adding a brand-new, dedicated production line for Ritz Crackers. This is a strong indicator of the brand's continued popularity and the need for increased domestic manufacturing to keep up with demand.
- Future Production: Once fully operational, the Henrico facility will become a major secondary hub, bolstering the supply chain and ensuring regional availability of the classic cracker.
3. International Facilities: Canada and Mexico
While the classic Ritz Cracker is an American invention, its global popularity requires international manufacturing to serve local markets efficiently. Mondelēz International operates production facilities across the globe, including in North America outside of the US.
- Mexico: Mondelēz has shifted a significant portion of its manufacturing for various snack brands to facilities in Mexico. Many Ritz products, particularly those sold in Mexico and some imported into the US, are produced there.
- Canada: Ritz Crackers are a popular brand in Canada, and Mondelēz maintains a strong presence there. In Canada, Nabisco products are sometimes branded as Christie, and local facilities produce the crackers to meet Canadian consumer preferences and distribution needs.
The Ingredients and Varieties That Define Ritz
The process of making a Ritz Cracker is a highly automated, high-speed operation, transforming simple ingredients into the iconic, buttery disc. The recipe remains largely consistent across all manufacturing locations, ensuring the distinct flavor and texture.
Key Ingredients of the Original Cracker
The classic Ritz Cracker is known for its delicate texture and rich, buttery flavor, achieved through a precise blend of basic baking components:
- Enriched Flour: Unbleached enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid) forms the base.
- Shortening/Oil: A combination of vegetable oil and modified palm oil provides the signature richness and flakiness.
- Leavening Agents: Ammonium carbonates and potassium carbonates are used to give the crackers their airy, bubbly texture.
- Seasoning: Salt and a touch of sugar or glucose-fructose syrup are added for the perfect balance of sweet and savory.
The Expanding World of Ritz Cracker Flavors
The manufacturing plants are constantly adapting to produce a wide array of Ritz varieties, extending far beyond the original disc. This variety is key to the brand's topical authority and continued market dominance.
- Classic Crackers: Original, Whole Wheat, Roasted Vegetable, Hint of Salt, and Honey Wheat.
- Limited-Edition & Flavored: Recent and popular flavors include Garlic Butter and Everything (featuring a blend of seeds and spices).
- Ritz Bits: Bite-sized, filled cracker sandwiches, such as Ritz Bits Cheese and Ritz Bits Peanut Butter.
- Toasted Chips: A line of baked chips, including flavors like Sour Cream and Onion or Cheddar.
From the massive Chicago bakery to the new production lines in Virginia, the buttery goodness of Ritz Crackers is the result of a highly sophisticated, multi-site manufacturing operation. The next time you enjoy a cracker, you can appreciate that it's a product of the world's largest bakery, managed by a global food power, and now expanding its US footprint to keep up with its enduring status as an American favorite.
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