Although invented decades earlier, it wasn’t until 1971 when the Rival introduced the “Croc Pot” at a housewares trade show. After that, the product was generously marketed and sales soared from $2 million in 1971 to $93 by the end of 1974! Consumers loved the idea of preparing meals with hearty ingredients that only required literally less than 15 minutes of prep. Once done, ingredients are added into the Croc Pot (slow cooker), the temperature is set, and when it’s dinner time the meal is ready to serve. Simple! Popular slow cooker brands include Croc-Pot (no surprise), Black & Decker, Cuisinart and Instant Pot.