This is a relic of bygone days. Its sell-by date was April 9, 2022.
Something happened to make this brand of margarine, Gold ‘n Soft, disappear from grocery shelves not just in Albany but every place else where it used to be sold.
Something must have happened, but I don’t know what it is.
A 10-minute Google search for news about this product and the company that made it produced not a single clue of exactly why it hasn’t been available since some time this summer.
On various social media platforms, there’s an occasional suggestion that the brand had been discontinued. But why?
In 2006, the publication Oregon Business ran a story saying the margarine had a 40-year history in the Northwest and was still being produced in Portland.
The label was owned by Ventura Foods of Brea, Calif., in Orange County. Nothing on the company’s corporate website mentions the brand or explains why you can’t buy it.
Strangely enough, the website “https://goldnsoft.com/products” is still accessible.
Under the headline “A Northwest Original Spreads Across the Country,” the site says that Gold ‘n Soft “products were first introduced back in 1966 in Portland, Oregon, and quickly became the #1-selling brand in the Northwest US. During the 1970s, the brand was introduced to Southern California. Its popularity and distribution have only grown since then.”
The site also has a locator of where you can buy the stuff. No matter what city across the country you put in, from Albany Oregon to Albany New York, and from Seattle to Los Angeles, the site says: “Sorry, no results were found within a 10-mile radius of this location.”
Why would the “No. 1 selling brand in the Northwest” no longer be sold anywhere across the U.S? I have emailed the company, and if I get an answer, I’ll add it below. (hh)
Sounds like Gold ‘n Soft was forced out of business by the “bigger guys” to me. Or the people who ran it got old and retired. It happens.
My mother and I used to both buy Gold ‘n Soft. I started using the “light” forms of margarine, and don’t remember if Gold ‘n Soft had a light version or not.
It was my favorite and im still annoyed because i cant find a comparable product.
My husband just brought 2 containers of gold n soft margarine home today. He went shopping at Sherm’s market in Roseburg Oregon. So it’s still being made and sold as of November 18th 2022.
My husband just brought 2 containers of gold n soft margarine home today. He went shopping at Sherm’s market in Roseburg Oregon. So it’s still being made and sold as of November 18th 2022.
I received a call from Ontario Canada today after several emails and a nice lady from Ventura foods advised me that they have discontinued the goldnsoft product. She said that some locations will still carry the product until expiration or they are sold out but nothing is being produced moving forward. :/ she did say that she would send my concerns to their sales department and let them know the people want it back. Lol
I contacted the company & was told that the profit margin was so low that they opted to discontinue that product. All about money…I guess.
It was always cheaper too, now anything even close is 3-4 times as much money. I’m sure that is a factor from competitors
The tie to the NW…was that the yellow container was made by a Portland based company, later named Humphreyline. My brother was the buyer of the this company’s resin, for injection moulding.
https://www.pinterest.com/Humphreyline/
The containers were originally injection molded at Molded Container Corp. in Sellwood, Oregon where I worked in the mid 70’s and the original margarine production was done in NE Portland on NE Marx st. It was known as Gregg’s Gold n Soft margarine before being purchased by Ventura Foods and being manufactured in other locations. Sad to see this disappear from the store shelves, it is definitely the best tasting margarine made and we have not found anything that comes close.
I agree I’ve been looking everywhere! It’s the only brand I use! From cooking to baking to melting over popcorn. It’s just yummy and my recipes will not b the same!
https://www.oregonbusiness.com/article/archives/item/4842-gold-n-soft-margarine-celebrates-40-years
Gold ‘n’ Soft is a brand, not a product. It’s a perception you experience, not a real thing.
The processed spread (margarine) marketplace is very competitive so there are lots of other brands that will probably make you feel good.
Me? My taste buds prefer pasteurized butter.
And ants won’t eat margarine. They don’t care a whit about brand.
Do what ants do…eat real food.
Ahh you’re one of those butter snobs. Butter’s fine I eat it some but, it’s not always the best for some uses.
Yeah I really despise the arrogance of people like that. I couldn’t care less what his taste buds prefer, I’m not an ant, and I don’t need to be spoken to in a condescending manner about “my perceptions and experiences” lol. He clearly thinks he’s the smartest person in the room, and that we ignorant lowly commoners could use a lesson, taught by him, in how our brain works, brand recognition, and the way we’re hooked on a brand, not a taste lmao. Which is not the case at all, not for me anyway. Oh well, I guess we’ll all have to get on with our lives, and learn to live without our Gold N’ Soft margarine that ants don’t like. Perhaps we should arrange a funeral and/or celebration of life, for our departed margarine? Have a massive get together, maybe sacrifice some Tillamook margarine in Gold N’ Soft’s honor? I don’t know, but I think we all need some closure here, it’s just such a tragedy. Good luck out there my fellow Gold N’ Soft consumers, obviously nothing can replace our departed one, but I hope you all find a satisfactory fill in. Peace out homie G gangsters. ;))
For the first time in my life I can’t eat a meal for breakfast . Who ever took my margerine better bring it back ! I’m a chosen one and I will find a way through god to bring back breakfast for the people against butter ! I pray they pay fir taking my sacred margerine ! Amen thank you for reading !
Wasn’t there some negative health issues because of the molecular structure of the fat?
Originally, margarines and a bunch of other stuff were made with “Partially Hydrogenated Oils (PHO)”, because they didn’t have the animal fats that were “bad” for you.
PHO, aka Trans Fats, it turns out, are bad for you… worse than the real thing, and were banned starting in 2018.
Now Margarines are made with “Fully Hydrogenated Oils” that are reportedly not bad (cue “Jaws” theme) and maybe even good for reducing LDL cholesterol.
Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen, place your bets.
I also love this brand. First the smaller containers went missing then the larger ones.
You can find them at smaller stores like us market, and I hear bimart.
I liked the cups & bright colors that
the margarine used to come in!
I have not seen any “Golden Soft”
in Oregon for years
And you won’t because it’s not called golden soft. It’s Gold ‘n Soft
Oh brother! You’re seriously this ridiculous?
Hmmm, this figures. I was sent to the store to pick this up and after trying three stores I was defeated. Tried to tell my wife it was no where to be found went over with a disbelieving look. You better believe I showed her this article (:
All that aside I hope this company is able to return or is still a functioning business and can get caught back up with demand.
Signed : Grocery Challenged
Like so many other brands these days it’s likely getting repackaged. And will be back looking more appealing and of course more expensive.
I miss gold soft bring it back
Was wondering where this went. Can’t find it anywhere. I don’t like anything else either. Hopefully we find out what happened soon.
I called Ventura foods in Brea California and asked them why can’t I find it anymore and the lady I spoke to said they weren’t making margarine products anymore. I was upset just like a lot of you . I told her there was going to be a lot of upset people and her comment was ” sorry ” . No there isn’t comparable products out there. When you melt gold & soft you actually get all margarine not half water. Sad it’s discontinued.
FINALLY! I now see I wasn’t the only one who was suddenly betrayed by my one and only favorite brand of margarine. I can no longer enjoy eating anything that I previously enjoyed spreading copious amounts of Gold ‘n’ Soft on. Woe is my existance.
My grandma probably turned in her grave when she heard me read this article.. it was her favorite margarine.
We have used gold & soft for years and years. No other margarine melts on your toast, pancakes, etc. It tastes better also. Everything we have tried since won’t melt and doesn’t taste the same, even real butter.
My brother is VP at Ventura foods the SE section and I asked him last night he said Discontinued. Hasson you can email me mandylnntwins@yahoo.com to give info to verify this. Did not ask brother to use his name so I don’t want to put it on here.
Found Land of Lakes buttery spread at Walmart .Container is the same size and compares quite nicely to Gold and Soft had used that product for many years
OMG They can’t discontinue Gold and Soft.
That’s just insane!!!!
I better stock up while my hometown grocery store still has it.
I have wondered why I can not this product any longer. I have used it forever. BUMMER
Outrageous.
my local store said somethimg about rebranding,,,i usually buy the 4,75# tub…they say it should be back, but i also messaged the company today, we’ll see what they say
I can’t believe how many comments have been generated by… margarine!
I have used Gold n Soft since I was a kid!! We had milk cows and fresh butter, but I always preferred Gold n Soft!! When my caregiver came back from the store, saying it was missing, I assumed she was lying. So I went to all the stores in town, myself!! It was gone!! Nothing else even works!! So please repackage and raise the price, we NEED our Margarine!!
Maybe it’s time to quit the margarine scene. Your arteries will love you for it.
Back in the 60’s Safeway had a margarine called Coldbrook that was really good and it disapeared when the soft margarines became more popular. Another favorite that is still missed.
I agree with all the other comments, have used Gold n Soft margarine for years! Have searched many stores for months looking for it..to no avail.. Nothing compares :(
Good morning to everyone!
I used this margarine to make pie crust, turkey stuffing and it was delicious
This year I bought another brand and my stuffing came up very mushy
Not the same flavor
My pie crust very dry and loose
Kind of sad for that :(
Omgosh ! Same here. I Made mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving and didn’t have my Gold n Soft…. might as well not even eat any…
I NEED MY GOLD N SOFT BACK! I’VE USED THIS MARGARINE ALL MY LIFE! STARTING AT HOME AS A CHILD UNTIL NOW AS AN ADULT ON MY OWN FOR 35 YEARS! I’VE BEEN HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED HAVING TO USE LESSER QUALITY BRANDS! UGH!
Thanks for putting this article out. I have been searching for months. Happens to find small tub in a random gas station in a small random town in Idaho. You bet I bought all they had. Hopefully we can get the word out the people want Gold n Soft back. Kick myself for not stocking up when I last saw it in the chain supermarket.
bring it back its the only butter we eat come on !!!!!!!!!!!!
I can’t believe a company with a following like Gold N Soft could quit making it. It was the best margarine ever made!!!
I had to resort back to butter since none of the other ‘margarines’ even come close to Gold n Soft. My husband is out looking for it now (after failing to find it for a few months)…guess I better call him and tell him the bad news. Search is over :-(
Gold N Soft was the best maragine on the shelves!! So so disappointed that it disappeared!! Nothing out there that compares with the texture and taste!!will be waiting to get it back!!
I am so disappointed that they stopped making Gold ‘N Soft, best product ever! I can’t find anything even close to its flavor and texture. I really hope the bring it back, even if it cost more than it did before.
Gave up searching, now asking industry for new label or new marketing. I am so disappointed, looked forever for my cooking standard “Gold and Soft.” I cook a lot. Wrote a cookbook and recommended this brand for pie pastry. Maybe if I clean out the large freezer, I’ll discover a yellow tub in the very back. I have to continually re-adjust the shortening to flour ratio with any other substitute. Bring it back! Make my Holiday pies the best, again.
This is a holiday cooking disaster! I am in Utah and have been searching for months, even willing to pay scalpers prices, just to have my holiday baking taste just right. This is seriously a food travesty. (melodramatic, I know, but it’s my feelings). I have tried just about every other butter and margarine they make and nothing compares. 40+ years of eating only this and I feel like I will never be the same.
My family has been loyal to this brand for at least over 40 years as it was our only choice when it came to butter/margarine, nothing comes close.
This is very disappointing. I even called them and they said it was indeed discontinued and gave them my customer complaint. I hope they receive enough complaints that they’ll reverse their decision.
I don’t care if they raise the price, I’m willing to pay it to have that taste.
I hope I can find some remaining containers as a closure to a product that I may have to say goodbye to.
We should all email the company and request it be brought back and that people would even pay more for it, I know I definitely would.I did send an email already to them to let them know how unhappy people are. My cookies are just not the same without Gold n’ Soft.
The squares are the only margarine I’ve ever used for baking, no other product compares. Have to re-think my whole world.
The reason I miss Gold nSoft is that it had a much lower water content. My mom’s recipes from the 1950-60s don’t turn out well with the margarines today that contain a lower percentage of oil and much higher water. —-Like Parkay, Imperial, Blue Bonnet. I did try Country Crock plant butter. Tastes better than Earth Balance and at this point it is also about $1.50 less.
Born and raised in Oregon, now age 60, I was brought up completely on Gold n Soft. I am devastated to learn that I now have to change a staple that is unmeasured. I whole heartedly agree with all of the comments written before mine. RAISE your profits if necessary, we will pay your price, just bring back your original product. We already pay a handsome price for the other stuff that doesn’t compare!! Don’t let those companies make your money.
If they repackage it how are we going to recognize it? They won’t use the same name. Has it become a store brand?
Really miss gold n soft! Even called Sherms in Roseburg to see if they had any I could buy. No luck.
All the best to us all. I really have not found a suitable replacement.
Yes, I agree with all the comments. I cannot find anything that’s comparable. Can’t put it on hot toast the new stuff just as like water soaking into the bread my eggs taste like crap because nothing compares to the golden soft bring it back. What will it take to get it back on the market?