Payday (confection) facts for kids
Payday logo
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| Owner | Iconic IP Interests, LLC |
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| Introduced | 1932 |
| Related brands | Hershey's NutRageous |
| Markets | United States |
| Previous owners | Hollywood Candy Company Leaf, Inc. |
| Tagline | "Totally Nuts about Payday" "Get To It" |
The Payday candy bar is a popular treat known for its unique combination of peanuts and caramel. It was first created in 1932 by the Hollywood Candy Company. Unlike many other candy bars, the original Payday does not have a chocolate coating. Instead, it features a sweet caramel center completely covered in salted peanuts. Since 1996, The Hershey Company has been making the classic Payday bar. In 2020, Hershey's also introduced a "Chocolatey Payday bar," which is the same as the original but with a layer of chocolatey coating.
Contents
The Sweet History of Payday
How Payday Got Its Name
The Payday candy bar was first made in 1932 by the Hollywood Candy Company. It got its name because it was first produced on a payday at the company. During the Great Depression, Payday was even marketed as a snack that could help fill you up, thanks to its many peanuts.
Who Made Payday?
The Hollywood Candy Company was led by Frank Martoccio. This company also made another candy bar called the Zero bar. In 1938, the company moved its operations to Centralia, Illinois.
Changes in Ownership
Over the years, the ownership of Payday changed several times. In 1967, the Martoccio family sold Hollywood Brands to Consolidated Foods, which later became Sara Lee. A fire destroyed the Centralia factory in 1980, but production continued with help from another company until a new factory was built. In 1988, Hollywood Brands was bought by the Leaf Candy Company. Finally, in 1996, Payday became part of The Hershey Company when Hershey's bought Leaf North America.
Payday's Popularity
The Payday bar has remained a favorite for many years. In 2019, it was even ranked as the #3 candy bar in the LA Times Candy Bar Power Rankings.
Exploring Payday Products
Different Payday Versions Over Time
When Payday bars were first introduced in 1932, candy bars were often seen as small meals. Over the years, there have been a few special versions of Payday. In 2003, a limited edition glazed honey Payday was released. In 2005, a high-protein energy bar called Payday Pro was available. There was even a fun promotion in 1989 where some Payday bars included a nickel coin inside!
The Chocolatey Payday Story
Chocolate-covered Payday bars have appeared at different times. In the 1980s, when Sara Lee owned the brand, there was a chocolate-covered version. The Hershey Company also made a limited chocolate PayDay in 2006 and the Payday Chocolatey Avalanche in 2007, which was later stopped. However, in August 2020, Hershey's brought back the Chocolatey Payday candy bar as a regular part of its product line.
Payday Bars You Can Find Today
The Original Payday Bar
The classic Payday candy bar has been available since 1932. It is made with crunchy peanuts and chewy caramel. You can usually find it in a standard size and a larger "king-size" bar (96 grams) in most stores.
What's Inside: Nutrition for Original Payday
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 1,931 kJ (462 kcal) |
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51.9 g
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| Sugars | 40.4 g |
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25 g
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| Saturated | 4.8 g |
| Trans | 0 g |
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Protein
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13.5 g
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| Minerals | Quantity
%DV†
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| Calcium |
10%
98.1 mg |
| Iron |
15%
1.9 mg |
| Potassium |
13%
384.6 mg |
| Sodium |
15%
230.8 mg |
| Other constituents | Quantity |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
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Serving size is 1 1.85oz (or 52 g) bar
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| †Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults. Source: Smart Label |
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Ingredients of Original Payday
The main ingredients in an original Payday bar are:
- Peanuts
- Sugar
- Corn syrup
- Skim milk
- Vegetable oil (like palm oil and sunflower oil)
- A small amount of salt, carrageenan, and mono- and diglycerides
Allergens in Original Payday
- Payday bars contain powdered milk and peanuts.
Special Features of Original Payday
- Made in the USA
- Gluten-free
- Certified OU-D (meaning it's a kosher dairy product)
The Chocolatey Payday Bar
The Chocolatey Payday bar became a permanent part of the Payday family in August 2020. This bar has the same salted peanuts and caramel as the original, but it's covered in a chocolatey coating. It comes in two sizes:
- A standard 1.84-ounce bar
- A larger 3.1-ounce king-size bar
What's Inside: Nutrition for Chocolatey Payday
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 2,092 kJ (500 kcal) |
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55.8 g
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| Sugars | 51.9 g |
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26.9 g
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| Saturated | 9.6 g |
| Trans | 0 g |
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Protein
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9.6 g
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| Minerals | Quantity
%DV†
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| Calcium |
10%
96.1 mg |
| Iron |
16%
2.1 mg |
| Potassium |
10%
307.7 mg |
| Sodium |
13%
192.3 mg |
| Other constituents | Quantity |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
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Serving size is 1 1.85oz (or 52 g) bar
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| †Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults. Source: Smart Label |
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Ingredients of Chocolatey Payday
The main ingredients in a Chocolatey Payday bar are:
- Sugar
- Peanuts
- Vegetable oils (like palm oil, shea oil, sunflower oil, palm kernel oil, safflower oil)
- Corn syrup
- Chocolate
- Skim milk
- A small amount of whey, salt, lecithin, carrageenan, mono- and diglycerides, and artificial flavor (vanillin).
Allergens in Chocolatey Payday
- Chocolatey Payday bars contain powdered milk, peanuts, and soy.
Special Features of Chocolatey Payday
- Made in the US
- Certified OU-D (kosher dairy)
