Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing Company facts for kids
| Private | |
| Industry | Candy |
| Founded | 1919 Peter Paul Halajian |
| Headquarters | New Haven, Connecticut |
| Products | Mounds candy bar, Almond Joy |
| Parent | Cadbury Schweppes (1978-1988) the Hershey Company |
The Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing Company is a part of the Hershey Company, a well-known candy maker. Peter Paul is famous for creating popular candy bars like Mounds and Almond Joy.
Contents
History of Peter Paul Candy
How It All Started
The Peter Paul company began in 1919 in New Haven, Connecticut. Six immigrants from Armenia, led by Peter Paul Halajian, started it. Their first factory was in Naugatuck, Connecticut.
Their very first candy was called the Konabar. It had chocolate, coconut, nuts, and fruit. It did quite well. In 1921, they launched the famous Mounds candy bar. This bar had sweet white coconut covered in dark chocolate.
Surviving Tough Times
The 1930s brought the Great Depression, a very hard time for the economy. Many businesses struggled. In 1932, Peter Paul took a big chance. They changed how Mounds bars were packaged, using clear cellophane instead of tin foil. They also made the Mounds bar twice as big, turning it into a twin bar, but kept the price the same. This risk paid off, and sales quickly grew!
In 1934, the company built a new part onto their factory. They also bought more new machines. They used their earnings to pay for these changes without needing to borrow money.
That same year, they introduced a new candy bar called Dreams. It had diced almonds and coconut covered in dark chocolate. This bar was a first step towards the Almond Joy bar. By the late 1930s, both Mounds and Dreams were among the top-selling candy bars in the United States.
Candy During World War II
During World War II, it was hard to get sugar and coconut. Because of this, Peter Paul stopped making the Dreams bar. They focused on Mounds, which sold better. Mounds became very popular with the U.S. military. By 1944, the military bought 5 million Mounds bars every month for their soldiers! The company also made caramels and a special charcoal gum during the war.
The Birth of Almond Joy
The Almond Joy bar was introduced in 1948. Unlike Mounds, it used milk chocolate instead of dark chocolate. It also had a double-toasted almond on top. Almond Joy came in a blue package, different from the red Mounds package. It became an instant hit!
Advertising Sweet Success
Peter Paul was a leader in advertising. In the 1930s, they advertised on national radio. In the early 1950s, they were one of the first candy makers to use network television ads. Their famous slogan, "Indescribably Delicious," was created in 1955. They were also the first candy company to use full-color TV commercials.
In 1972, Peter Paul introduced a candy bar called (Peanut Butter with) No Jelly. It was later renamed the Peanut Butter Bar. This bar was stopped in 1979.
New Owners and Changes
In 1972, Peter Paul bought the York Cone Company. This gave them the successful York Peppermint Pattie, which had been around since 1940.
In 1978, a company called Cadbury Schweppes bought Peter Paul. This made Peter Paul the U.S. candy part of Cadbury. In 1988, the Hershey Company bought Peter Paul and all of Cadbury's U.S. chocolate business.
In 2007, Hershey Company announced they would close Peter Paul's factory in Naugatuck. Operations then moved to Virginia.
Products
- Konabar
- Mounds
- Dreams
- Almond Joy
- (Peanut Butter with) No Jelly
- York Peppermint Pattie
- Caramello
- Caravelle
- Power House
- Almond Cluster
