Peeps a popular Easter tradition

The company is ‘Born’

— Sam Born, a Russian native, immigrated to the United States from France in 1910.

— The invention of a machine which could insert sticks into lollipops earned Born the keys to the city of San Francisco in 1916.

— At his newly opened store in Brooklyn, NY, Born displayed his made-fresh-daily candies in the window with a sign that said “Just Born.”

— The first company logo featured a baby resting in a candy measuring scale.

— Just Born not only survived but thrived during the Great Depression. Sam Born and his brothers-in law, Irv and Jack Shaffer, moved the company to Bethlehem, PA in 1932. An empty printing plant, where the Saturday Evening Post was once printed, became the company’s new home.

— The company grew with the acquisition of other candy companies. The prestigious Maillard Corporation, known for its hand-decorated chocolates, Venetian mints, crystallized nuts and more, became a part of Just Born in 1935.

— Just Born introduced the MIKE AND IKE fruit flavored chews in 1940. Ten years later, HOT TAMALES were introduced and today remain the most popular cinnamon-flavored chewy candy in America.

— It was 1953 when Just Born acquired the Rodda Candy Company, famous for its jellybean technology. Rodda also made a limited number of three-dimensional marshmallow Easter candies by hand squeezing pastry tubes. Bob Born, son of the founder, mechanized the process of forming the marshmallow treats and mass production of Peeps began.

— Cousins Ross Born and David Shaffer joined Just Born in 1978. The pair became co-presidents of the company in 1992, carrying on the family business.

— Lavender Peeps chicks were hatched in 1995. Blue Peeps followed in 1998.

— In 2004, Peeps decorating kits for Valentines Day, Easter, Halloween and Christmas were introduced.

— Halloween Spooky Friends and green Peeps chicks hit the market as did sugar-free chicks.

— Today 4.2 million Peeps are made per day at the same plant acquired in 1932, although expanded from 100,000 square feet to about four times that size.

Fun Facts

— In 1953, it took 27 hours to create a Peeps chick. The eyes were painted on by hand. Machines now ‘paint’ 3,500 eyes per minute and it takes about six minutes what once took better than a full day to complete.

— Yellow and white Peeps chicks and bunnies came first, followed by pink, lavender, blue, green and orange.

— During the Easter season, Peeps outsell jellybeans.

— Over 30 percent of Peeps are purchased for reasons other than eating.

— Just Born produces enough Peeps candies in one year to circle the earth twice.

— Stood one upon the other, it would take 8,000 Peeps bunnies to reach the top of the Sears Tower in Chicago.

— Five Peeps chicks is considered one serving which contains 140 calories and 0 grams of fat.

Want more?

The online Just Born store (www.peepsandcompany.com/peeps) has a wide variety of merchandise for Peeps fans. To name just a few of the items available: yoga pants, t-shirts, mugs and tumblers, flip flops, salt and pepper shakers, bracelets, pillows, lunch bags, candles, plush toys, beach towels, lip gloss, magnets and much, much more.