PEZ Candy: Breath Mint Finds Success as Children’s Toy

By Cathy Rogers

When Austrian Eduard Haas introduced Pez candy to the United States in 1952, Americans were not initially impressed. Haas invented his candy in 1927 and promoted the peppermint flavored treat as a cigarette substitute.

The original mints came packaged in a pocket tin. Designed for adults, the first Pez dispenser, made in 1948, resembled a cigarette lighter.

In a marketing scheme that proved to be successful, Haas repackaged the candy in a toy-like dispenser with cartoon heads and changed the candy to fruit-flavored. Sales took off once the product attracted children. Some of the original dispensers included a robot, space trooper and Santa Claus.

Popeye and some Disney characters were also among the first Pez dispensers. Reportedly, the top-selling Pez dispensers were Dino the Dinosaur, Santa Claus and Mickey Mouse.

Over time, dispensers were topped with animals, circus figures and cartoon characters. A Pez dispenser called “Make a Face” resembled Mr. Potato Head. In 1987, the company added feet--for stability--to its dispensers.

1950s era Pez dispensers included a Pez space gun and Cocoa-Marsh. 1960s era dispensers include a bride (complete with veil) and groom, Mary Poppins, a political elephant and a World’s Fair astronaut.

Pez dispensers have represented movie characters, superheroes, career models, and even a set of historical character marketed in 1976. Created in celebration of the bicentennial, the set of nine American history themed dispensers included Uncle Sam, an Indian chief, a wounded soldier, Betsy Ross, Daniel Boone and a captain, thought to be Paul Revere.

Cherry, lemon, strawberry and orange were the original candy flavors. The candy was imported until Pez Candy, who took over the production and sales from Haas Food Manufacturing Corporation, built a plant in New York. The plant later moved to Orange, Connecticut, where it remains.

As a part of American pop culture, many vintage Pez dispensers are now collectible items.

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