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York Peppermint Pattie

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"Peppermint Pattie" redirects here. For the Peanuts character, see Peppermint Patty.
York Peppermint Pattie
A York Peppermint Pattie split in half.
A circular pattie with a soft mint center coated in dark chocolate.
Product typeConfectionery
OwnerThe Hershey Company
CountryUnited States
Introduced1940; 84 years ago (1940)
Related brandsYork Miniatures
MarketsUnited States
United Kingdom
TaglineGet The York Sensation
Get The Sensation
Websitehersheyland.com/york

York Peppermint Pattie is an American dark chocolate enrobed peppermint confection introduced in 1940 and currently produced by the Hershey Company.

History

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About 1920, Henry Kessler founded the York Cone Company Corporation on South Pine Street in York, Pennsylvania.[1] The company originally sold ice cream cones and waffles before Kessler wanted to make a chocolate and mint themed candy.[2] Although news articles commonly have it that the York Peppermint Pattie was first produced in York, Pennsylvania by Henry Kessler at his York Cone Company in 1940,[3] a trademark application for “York Peppermint Pattie Mint (Candy)” filed by York Cone Company Corporation on February 10, 1949, shows a first use in commerce date of January 28, 1922, soon after the founding of the company. The trademark registration number 0564557 was awarded on September 30, 1952.[4]

Although chocolate-covered peppermints already existed before the York Peppermint Pattie came on the market, the York differed in that it was firmer and crisp, while the competition was softer and gooier. A former employee and York resident, Phil Kollin, remembered the final test that sample patties went through before leaving the factory: "It was a snap test. If the candy didn't break clean in the middle, it was a second."[5]

The business expanded sales beyond the local market and without consumer advertising the York Peppermint Pattie was being sold in the Northeast, parts of the Midwest and in Florida.[6]

On August 22, 1966, Charles M. Schulz introduced a character named Peppermint Patty to the Peanuts comic strip.[7]

In 1972, the York Cone Company was acquired by Peter Paul,[8] who then launched the York Peppermint Patties nationally in 1975.

Peter Paul then merged with Cadbury for $27.50 per share, a total of $58 million in 1978.[9]

In August 1988, Hershey acquired the US confectionery operations of Cadbury Schweppes which included the Almond Joy, Mounds and York Peppermint Pattie business. The purchase price was $284.5 million plus assumption of $30 million in debt and it included licensing arrangements for Almond Joy, Mounds, York Peppermint Pattie, as well as certain Cadbury brands in the US market.[10]

In 2009, after 23 years in the Reading plant, production of the York Peppermint Pattie moved from Reading, Pennsylvania, to Mexico.[11]

Promotion

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During the 1970s, Peter Paul launched a memorable advertising campaign for the candy with the tagline "Get the Sensation" which continues to be used into the present day. A TV commercial in 1979 included the “Get The Sensation” theme.[12]

In the fall of 1982, Peter Paul launched an advertising campaign using an “I Love New York” theme to promote adding 10% more chocolate to the candy.[13]

National Peppermint Patty Day is celebrated each year on February 11.[14]

Product and variations

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In the confectionery industry, enrobing is a process that involves covering a confection or snack with chocolate or chocolate coatings.[15] The York Peppermint Pattie confection features strongly contrasting flavors, with a bittersweet dark chocolate surrounding a sugary center with a strong peppermint flavor.

Over time there have been a number of product variations such as the following:

  • Sugar Free Peppermint Patties – a sugar-free version of the traditional Peppermint Pattie.[16]
  • Chocolate Truffle Mint – introduced in 2004, which had a brown filling.[17]
  • Limited Edition Pink Pattie – introduced in October 2005. Peppermint Pattie with pink filling. Sale proceeds are donated to breast cancer research through the Young Survival Coalition.[18]
  • York Mints – introduced in 2007, a tin filled with bite-sized mints that have a mint shell, chocolate on the inside, and more mint on the inside.
  • York Peppermint Bites – Introduced in 2003. Bite sized, round shaped candy. Introduced with other Hershey flavors.
  • Peppermint Batties – Bat-shaped Peppermint Patties made each year around Halloween. Replaced with Peppermint Patties Pumpkins in 2007.
  • Peppermint Patties Pumpkins – introduced in October 2007 for Halloween. Pumpkin-shaped Peppermint Patties with orange filling.
  • Peppermint Patties Miniature Hearts Heart Box – introduced for Valentine's Day. Heart-shaped patties in a heart-shaped box.
  • Peppermint Pattie Snowflakes – for Christmas, snowflake-shaped Peppermint Patties.
  • Egg-Shaped Patties – for Easter.
  • York Chocolate Peppermint Pattie Easter Bunny[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "York Peppermint Pattie - Snack History". www.snackhistory.com. Snack History. 20 August 2021.
  2. ^ Hartel, Richard W.; Hartel, AnnaKate (2014), Hartel, Richard W.; Hartel, AnnaKate (eds.), "Peppermint Patties", Candy Bites: The Science of Sweets, New York, NY: Springer, pp. 93–96, doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-9383-9_24, ISBN 978-1-4614-9383-9, retrieved 2021-09-10
  3. ^ "York Town Square - York Peppermint Patties: 'York became synonymous with dark chocolate and peppermint'". Yorkblog.com. 29 July 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Search trademark database". www.uspto.gov. United States Patent & Trademark Office.
  5. ^ Wilbur, Todd (November 1994). More Top Secret Recipes: More Fabulous Kitchen Clones of America's Favorite Brand-Name Foods. ISBN 1101639857.
  6. ^ "York Peppermint Patties: 'York became synonymous with dark chocolate and peppermint'". York Town Square. Yorkblog.com. 29 July 2009.
  7. ^ "Which Peppermint Pattie Came first, the Candy or the Peanuts Character?". culinarylore.com. CulinaryLore. 16 November 2012.
  8. ^ "The York Peppermint Patties History of Candy". sites.psu.edu. Penn State University.
  9. ^ "Peter Paul Purchase Planned by Cadbury". The New York Times. 22 February 1978.
  10. ^ The Hershey Company Fact Book (PDF). The Hershey Company. 2016.
  11. ^ Hershey Co. closing York Peppermint Patties plant; work moves to Mexico Cleveland Plain Dealer. 20 February 2009.
  12. ^ "York Peppermint Patty 1979 TV commercial". YouTube.
  13. ^ Pace, Eric (3 September 1982). "ADVERTISING; York's New Campaign Is by Dancer Agency". The New York Times.
  14. ^ "NATIONAL PEPPERMINT PATTY DAY - February 11". National Day Calendar.
  15. ^ "Enrobing in the confectionery industry". New Food Magazine.
  16. ^ "YORK Sugar Free". Hersheys.com. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  17. ^ "YORK peppermint pattie". Archived from the original on 2007-08-07. Retrieved 2007-09-19.
  18. ^ "York, Pa.: 'It's a midsize city with an interesting history'". York Town Square. 26 October 2008.
  19. ^ "York Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint Bunny 5-Ounce Package - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 2020-02-26.
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