Original Launch Date of Peeps
Peeps first appeared in 1953 when the Rodda Candy Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, began producing the marshmallow chicks and bunnieshttps://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/peeps-history/. The original production was a slow, hand-made process that could only form a few hundred chicks per day before the company switched to mass production methods.
Today, Just Born Quality Confections, the company that acquired Rodda in 1953, manufactures over 2 billion Peeps annually, making them the top-selling non-chocolate Easter candy in the United Stateshttps://www.justborn.com/. The brand now sells its products in seasonal shapes beyond chicks and bunnies, including pumpkins for Halloween and trees for Christmas.
Peeps Product Line Expansion
Seasonal Shapes and Flavors
The company introduced new shapes and flavors over the decades, expanding the Peeps line beyond the original yellow chicks to include pink bunnies, white marshmallow trees, and pumpkin-shaped treatshttps://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/peeps-history/. Flavors now include chocolate-flavored marshmallow, vanilla, strawberry, and limited-edition collaborations with other candy brands.
Peeps Minis and Varieties
Peeps Minis launched as a smaller, bite-sized version of the classic marshmallow candy, often sold in bulk bags for snacking and bakinghttps://www.justborn.com/. The product line also includes Peeps Lip Balm, Peeps Sugar Free, and Peeps Cotton Candy flavored marshmallow, reflecting consumer demand for variety.
Market Presence and Public Data
Sales and Retail Distribution
Peeps are sold in major grocery chains, convenience stores, and online retailers, with seasonal spikes in sales each spring around Easterhttps://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/peeps-history/. The brand ranks among the top confectionery products in seasonal candy sales, competing with chocolate eggs and jelly beans in the Easter category.
Company Ownership and Operations
Just Born Quality Confections, headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, remains a family-owned company and is one of the largest candy manufacturers in North Americahttps://www.justborn.com/. The company continues to update its product line and packaging based on consumer trends and public market data.