About Me
HISTORY
It all started in 1927 in Austria when Edward Haas came up with this new peppermint candy. An adult breath mint that he decided to market as an alternative for smoking. (which became an after-cigarette mint) The word PEZ comes from the German word for peppermint (PfeffErminZ).PEZ used to be carried around in pocket tins. In the mid 40's there were handmade dispensers as well, designed to look like a lighter. Then in 1948 they came out with the "easy, hygenic dispenser" that we all know now to be a regular. In 1952 PEZ wanted to expand their sales so they set their sights on the U.S.A., to make their product more appealing to Americans, they placed heads on the dispensers and marketed it for children and "Pop-Culture" took over...It is unknown which dispenser was first but it was either the Full Body Robot or Full Body Santa.In 1973 PEZ built their U.S. plant that is located in Orange, Ct. In 1983, Mr. Scott McWhinnie became "PEZident" of PEZ here in the U.S. In 1990 the size of the plant was doubled. It operates 24 hours a day. That's right, 24 hours making PEZ candy. In 1987 feet were added to the base of the dispenser.October 1995 PEZ Collector's News sent out it's first issue. March 1996 PCN went on a tour of the factory and interviewed the "PEZident" of PEZ, Mr. Scott McWhinnie.1996 PEZ started a new mail order system to purchase PEZ direct from the company. That is when PEZ released Bubble Man to the public.June 1997 PEZ Collector's News expands to 31 pages!!!April 2002 PEZ turns over a box of genuine "errors" to the Northeast PEZ Collectors Gathering to give to all attendees. These dispensers came to PEZ made in the wrong colors. Rather than destroy them, they give them to collectors for the first time. The dispenser was the "Glowing Convention Witch". Now, it is a new tradition for convention registrants to receive a comemerative dispenser at conventions.January 2003 "PEZident" Scott McWhinnie retires. The PEZ company in the US restructures it's command and becomes even more "collector" friendly.PEZ does not advertise. Everywhere you look you see PEZ. Some newspaper or a magazine in the U.S. is does a story on PEZ, you see an advertisement with a PEZ dispenser in it, or watch a TV show that they mention PEZ as a joke or part of the story. All that is free advertising. It brings PEZ to the minds of all that sees it. From there, we pick up a few more collectors, PEZ sells a few more dispensers, a writer writes another story on PEZ.1927 Eduard Haas III markets a compressed peppermint candy he names PEZ
1948 Oskar Uxa invents a device to dispense Pez candy shaped like a cigarette lighter
1952 Eduard Haas files for trademark for PEZ
1952 PEZ dispenser Patented in U. S. by Oskar Uxa and assigned to Eduard Haas
1955 The company placed heads on the dispensers and marketed it for childrenWith great tasting flavors and collectable dispensers, PEZ is more than just a candy...it's the pioneer of "interactive candy" that is both enjoyable to eat and fun to play with. The PEZ dispenser, invented in 1948, was initially targeted for adult smokers, and the first dispenser was designed to look like a cigarette lighter (no character heads).PEZ Dispensers are a hot collectable for adults and children alike as well as being a staple and part of American pop culture. New character dispensers are introduced regularly to capitalize on current trends. Available around the world in more than 60 countries, PEZ Candy and Dispensers truly have universal appeal. Today, over 3 billion PEZ Candies are consumed annually in the U.S.A. alone.
