Overview: History of Canned Foods. Canned food has been in pantries for more than 200 years. But long before it was a staple on store shelves, it was used to feed armies. In 1795, a confectioner came up with the concept of preserving food in bottles. In America, canning had a slow start but the 1849 Gold Rush and Civil War contributed to its popularity. A mere 50 years after its development, invention of the can opener made it more convenient. In America's post-WWII economy, rise of the suburbs meant supermarkets, and food with long shelf life became the modern convenience food.