Archway Cookies

by Archway

1936 – 2008 IT CAME BACK

Back. Lance's rescue stuck: Archway passed into Campbell's snack portfolio, and the soft oatmeal and molasses cookies are still on shelves today.

Last verified Nov 7, 2026

Battle Creek's soft-cookie bakery, founded in 1936 and renamed Archway in 1954, built its name on the oatmeal and molasses rounds your grandmother considered a food group. It collapsed into Chapter 11 in October 2008, the same week as its sister brand Mother's.

🧾 One more thingLance bought Archway at the bankruptcy auction and reopened the Ashland, Ohio plant two days before Christmas 2008, rehiring laid-off workers — one of the recession's few happy cookie endings.

Filed under: Snacks & Chips · the ’70s & earlier

🎲 Remember another one 🛒 Test your memory

📅 Timeline

1936Founded in Battle Creek, Michigan as Swanson Home Style Cookies.
1954The Swansons rename the brand and company Archway Cookies.
2008October — Chapter 11, the same week sister brand Mother's collapses. In December, Lance wins the bankruptcy auction and reopens the Ashland, Ohio plant two days before Christmas, rehiring workers.
2026Part of The Campbell's Company's snack portfolio; the soft cookies are still on shelves.

❓ People also ask

Are Archway cookies still made?

Yes. Lance rescued the brand out of the 2008 bankruptcy, and Archway now sits in The Campbell's Company's snack portfolio.

Why did Archway close in 2008?

Its parent collapsed into bankruptcy that October — the same week as sister brand Mother's Cookies — amid the credit crisis. The Ashland plant reopened under Lance within two months.

🧾 Sources

The New York Times, Oh, No! What Happened to Archway? (2009)
International Directory of Company Histories (FundingUniverse), Archway Cookies, Inc. — company history (2004)
The Campbell's Company, Campbell Snacks — our food (2026)

🕯️ Shoppers also mourned