Planters facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Planters

Planters logo, Mr. Peanut, first created by a grade schooler Antonio Gentile in a contest in 1916.
Owner	Hormel Foods
Introduced	1906; 119 years ago (1906)
Markets	United States
Previous owners	Kraft Heinz

Planters Nut & Chocolate Company is a famous American snack food company. It is now owned by Hormel Foods. Planters is most well-known for its tasty nuts. You probably know them by their fun mascot, Mr. Peanut. Mr. Peanut was first drawn by a school kid named Antonio Gentile in 1916. He won a contest to design the company's special symbol. Over the years, artists have updated Mr. Peanut's look.

The Story of Planters

An advertisement for Planters Nut & Chocolate Company from 1921.

Planters was started by an Italian immigrant named Amedeo Obici. He began his career in Pennsylvania. First, he worked as a bellhop, helping guests at a hotel. Then, he sold fruit from a small stand.

Later, Obici moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He opened his own fruit stand there. He also bought a machine to roast peanuts. Within a few years, he became a peddler, selling his goods from a horse and wagon. He proudly called himself "The Peanut Specialist."

In 1906, Obici teamed up with Mario Peruzzi. Peruzzi had found a way to "blanch" peanuts. This means he could remove their tough hulls and skins easily. With six employees, two big roasters, and simple machines, Planters was born. Amedeo Obici believed that making good products and building a strong brand name were key to success.

Just two years later, the company officially became Planters Nut and Chocolate Company. By 1913, Obici moved to Suffolk, Virginia. This place was known as the "peanut capital of the world." There, he opened the company's first large factory. In 1950, Planters even made a puzzle called "PLANTERSPEANUTSPUZZLE" and gave out prizes.

Over the years, Planters has been owned by different big companies. In 1960, Standard Brands bought it. Then, in 1981, Standard Brands joined with Nabisco Brands. Later, Kraft Foods bought Nabisco Brands in 2000. Kraft then merged with H.J. Heinz Company in 2015 to form Kraft Heinz.

In 2021, Kraft Heinz announced they would sell Planters. Hormel bought Planters and its other nut businesses for $3.35 billion. The sale was completed on June 7, 2021.

Catchy Slogans

A Planters Peanut Bar.

Planters has used many different advertising phrases over the years. These are called taglines or slogans:

• "The Nickel Lunch!" – for peanuts and peanut bars (1930s–1940s)
• "Planters is the word for (good) Peanuts." (1950s)
• "America is Nuts for Planters" (1970s)
• "Everybody Loves a Nut!" (1990s)
• "Peanut butter with a crunch." (for P.B. Crisps – 1992)
• "Relax. Go Nuts." (for Deluxe Mixed Nuts – 1997)
• "Put Out the Good Stuff." (2003-2008)
• "Instinctively Good." (2007)
• "Naturally Remarkable." (2011)
• "Deliciously NUT-RITIOUS." (for UK products – 2016)
• "Harness the Power of the Peanut"
• "A Nut Above" (2021)
• "Become One With the Nut"
• "It's Nuts How Good They Are"
• "The Power is in the Peanut"

Planters Products

A container of Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts.

Planters makes many different kinds of snacks. Here are some of their popular products:

Products No Longer Made

Here are some products Planters used to make but are not available anymore:

Planters Around the World

In Canada, products like Planters peanut butter are made by Johnvince Foods (JVF Canada). They have permission to use the Planters name from Kraft Canada.

Since 2016, Planters has also started selling products in the United Kingdom. They offer 14 different items there. Their slogan in the UK is "Deliciously NUT-RITIOUS." Planters products in the UK are made by Trigon Snacks Trading Ltd. at their factory in Aintree, Liverpool.

Important for Vegans

Some Planters nut products contain an ingredient called gelatin. Gelatin is often made from animal parts. Because of this, certain larger jars of Planters peanuts are not suitable for people who follow a vegan diet. Vegans choose not to eat any animal products.