The phrase “the greatest thing since sliced bread” has become part of everyday conversation, but many people may not know where it came from.

On July 7, 1928, the Chillicothe Baking Company in Chillicothe, Missouri, became the first commercial bakery in the United States to sell pre-sliced bread. The innovation quickly changed the way Americans bought and enjoyed one of the nation’s most popular foods.

The slicing machine was invented by Otto Frederick Rohwedder, an Iowa jeweler and inventor who spent years perfecting a machine that could slice an entire loaf evenly and wrap it tightly enough to keep it fresh. Although many bakers were skeptical at first, the idea quickly proved to be a success with customers.

Pre-sliced bread saved families time in the kitchen and made preparing sandwiches, toast, and school lunches faster and easier. Before its introduction, every loaf had to be cut by hand, often resulting in uneven slices.

The popularity of sliced bread spread rapidly across the country. Within just a few years, bakeries nationwide had adopted the new technology, and by the 1930s, sliced bread had become the standard in grocery stores.

Its impact was so significant that Americans eventually began using the phrase “the greatest thing since sliced bread” to describe any new invention or idea that represented a major improvement.

Nearly a century later, sliced bread remains a kitchen staple, and the familiar expression continues to be used whenever something new captures the public’s imagination. It’s a reminder that even the simplest inventions can leave a lasting mark on everyday life.

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