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© History Oasis
Peep’s history started as a 27-hour handmade Easter novelty to a year-round candy favorite.
The R.E. Rodda Candy Company was founded by Roscoe Rodda in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with $300,000 from financiers from Baltimore, New York, Cincinnati, and several Pennsylvania cities. Rodda manufactures chocolates, hard candies, jelly beans, “jelly eggs,” and marshmallows.
Rodda Candy Company first created marshmallow chicks as special-order items for loyal customers. These candies were more decorative than edible. With the success of their marshmallow chicks, Rodda Candy Company introduced “Rodda marshmallow peeps” or “Rodda Easter peeps” in 1948. They are sold exclusively in Pennsylvania retailers.
Just Born, founded by Sam Born, acquired the Rodda Candy Company after Roscoe Rodda’s death. At this time, creating marshmallow chicks was extremely labor-intensive, requiring up to 80 people to work only during the Easter season. Each worker spooned marshmallows through fluted steel tips to create chick shapes. It would often take 27 hours to make one tray.
Bob Born creates the “Depositor,” an automated machine that produces six rows of five Peeps in just six minutes. But the new process removes the hand-piped wings originally featured on Peeps.
Just Born began producing Peeps in shapes beyond the original chicks for different seasons.
A variety of new Peeps were released, including the Marshmallow Peeps Bunny, a lavender-colored and blue Peeps that expand the original yellow, pink, and white color palette.
Scientists at Emory University declared Peeps “indestructible” after conducting experiments. They submerged the Peeps in boiling water and sulfuric acid, froze them with liquid nitrogen, and microwaved them.
The Peeps brand celebrates its 50th anniversary. Just Born celebrates with TV advertising, two Peeps fun buses, the Peepsmobile touring the country, special limited edition anniversary Peeps, and a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Peeps decorating kits were launched, allowing fans to personalize their treats. Peeps Lip Balm was introduced in four flavors: grape, strawberry, vanilla, and cotton candy. The first Peeps & Co. retail store opened in November in National Harbor, Maryland. The company also launched nail polish, wristbands, umbrellas, plush toys, golf gloves, earrings, and necklaces.
Competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi devours 25 Peeps in 30 seconds, setting a record. In 2017, Matt Stonie would break another record by eating 255 Peeps in five minutes. Dallas Cowboys player Barry Church received a seasonal supply of Peeps after he chips a tooth on a Jolly Rancher.
Peeps minis were launched, and Just Born and PepsiCo announced a limited edition, “Peeps marshmallow cola” soft drink flavor.
Just Born celebrates its 100th anniversary, and Bob Born, the “Father of Peeps,” dies at age 98.
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