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Peeps celebrate 60 years For over 20 years, Peeps have reigned as the #1 non-chocolate Easter candy brand. We're paying tribute to the cute confection by celebrating the most important milestones in Peeps history. 1923: The Just Born Candy Company gets its name when founder Sam Born displays fresh chocolates and other candies in the window of his Brooklyn storefront with a sign proudly announcing, "just born." Born focused on bringing French-style chocolates to New York City long before he perfected the marshmallow chick. 1932: During the Great Depression, the company reduces costs by relocating to an empty printing factory in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
1953: Just Born acquires Rodda Candy Company, which made marshmallow chicks by
Vintage Peepspainstakingly piping marshmallow through a pastry bag. To the right, Rodda Candy Company's vintage chicks show off their retro wings. 1954: The Peep meets mass production, thanks to Sam Born's son Bob, who mechanized the marshmallow forming process.
1950s: The marshmallow chicks' wings are "clipped" to give them a sleek new design.
1998: The introduction of blue chicks celebrates the 75th anniversary of Just Born. Peeps are then available in 5 colors: yellow, pink, white, lavender, and blue.
1999: Scientists at Emory University declare Peeps "indestructible" after a series of joke experiments. The researchers tested everything from submerging the sugary candies in boiling water and sulfuric acid, freezing them using liquid nitrogen, and microwaving them.
2004: Decorating kits allow fans to make their mark by personalizing their Peeps.
2009: Attention shopaholics: the first Peeps retail store opens in National Harbor, Maryland!
2010: Chocolate-covered Peeps hit the market, once again proving the irresistibility of the chocolate-marshmallow combo.
2013: The Peep is no spring chicken-she turns 60 this year!-but the brand continues to create innovative candies. Look for the new yellow chick hidden inside a hollow chocolate egg.
Peeps by Numbers:
27: Hours it took to make each chick by hand in 1953
6: Minutes it takes to make a Peep today.
4.2 million: Number of Peeps produced each day.
28: Calories in one Peeps chick
10: Years Pioneer Press has been hosting an annual Peeps Diorama Contest.
3,500: Candy eyes produced in one minute.
25: Peeps devoured in 30 seconds by competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi in 2012.
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