Poppets (sweets) facts for kids
Poppets, also known as Paynes Poppets, are small, tasty candies. They were first made in 1937 by a company called Payne's in Croydon. When they first came out, only Raisin Poppets were available. Over time, new flavours like Mint, Toffee, and Orange were added. Today, Poppets are made by Fox's.
Contents
The Story of Poppets
Poppets are famous for their special packaging. They come in small, 40-gram cardboard boxes. While many other candies switched to plastic wrappers in the 1960s and 1970s, Poppets kept their traditional boxes.
Why the Box is Special
The box has a clever little hatch in one corner. You can tear it open to get the sweets out one by one. This action of "popping out" the candies gave them their original name! The boxes also don't make noise, unlike crinkly plastic wrappers. This, and being able to get a candy in the dark, made them super popular in movie theaters. Cinemas are still one of the best places to buy Poppets.
Where Poppets Were Made
George Payne & Co. started making Poppets in London. In the 1930s, production moved to Beddington in Surrey. In 1998, the company was bought by Northern Foods. The factory in Croydon closed in 2001. Poppets production then moved to the Fox's factory in Leicester.
Box Redesign and Popularity
The Poppets box got a new look in 2006. The new designs featured other famous British items, like the Mini car. By 2011, Poppets were incredibly popular. About ten million Poppets were eaten every single week! In 2020, the Leicester factory was sold. Poppets production then moved to York.
Poppets Flavours and Sizes
Poppets come in several delicious flavours. The orange and mint Poppets have a soft, sweet fondant centre. This centre is covered in rich dark chocolate. Other flavours, like strawberry fondant, have a milk chocolate coating. A new salted fudge caramel flavour was added in 2021.
Different Poppets Sizes
While Poppets are best known for their small boxes, you can now buy them in bigger sizes too. There are larger 145-gram boxes available. You can also find 150-gram sharing bags, perfect for enjoying with friends.
