Reese’s – A brief History

You know the name, it’s been making waves all over Britain for a good while now. But do you know the lucrative history behind Reese’s success? Our guess is probably not! So we’re here to shed light on what is arguably America’s favourite candy.

 

It starts where all American Candy stories seemingly begin, a small brand called Hershey. Harry Burnett Reese needed a job in 1916, he ended up landing a spot at one of the Hershey Chocolate Company’s dairy farms. He rose from a gig milking cows to managing the part of the Hershey milk operation known as the Round Barn. While he was working at this job, Reese realized the financial rewards the candy industry could offer—but when the experimental Round Barn facility closed in 1919, he found himself unemployed.

 

After many failed attempts , Harry Reese’s found his break through in 1928 with the breakthrough of a now classic, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Since the death of Harry Reese in 1963, the Reese’s empire has gone full circle and has ended up where everything started…Hershey’s. After the inventors death, Hershey’s acquired the company, a move which ended up being definitely worth the investment!

 

Since the original Peanut Butter Cup, there has been over 20 variations of the famous chocolate coated cups for occasions such as Christmas, Halloween and even Valentines day!

Here’s some further interesting facts about Reese’s which you may not know.

1. The largest Peanut Butter Cup weighs 80z, coming in a pack of 2, and is sold on the official Reese’s website for anyone to buy!
2. 40,000 fans joined an online campaign in 2011 to make an ‘I love Reese’s day’ an official holiday for the candy.
3. This has become a holiday and is celebrated on May 18th….
4. They produce enough Peanut Butter Cups per year to feed one cup per person in the USA, Japan, Europe, China, Australia, Africa and India….Thats a lot of people!
5. Reese’s big breakthrough came from their product placement in a certain film you may just have heard of…E.T? The contract was originally offered to Mars, to use their M&M’s. They declined and Reese’s said yes…The sales from the movie released soared by at least 60%.

In honour of Reese’s best selling product, we have decided to rank our top 5 favourite Peanut Butter Cups which are still available today.

 

Our Winner: The O.G Peanut Butter Cup!

Not all heroes wear capes, some are wrapped in a bright orange packaging and are peanut butter covered in Chocolate. A true modern day classic. We guarantee this is the one product that will come to mind when you here the brands name. Deliciously smooth chocolate that begins to melt upon touch covering the creamiest peanut butter you ever tried. Not a bad word to say about this Reese’s product and we challenge anyone who says otherwise.

 

Taking home Silver: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup with Reese’s Pieces

Is there such a thing as too much peanut butter? We’ve been testing this theory for a while now. You see, the thing is, we’re not sure there is…Peanuts and peanut butter has become the partner in crime for a chocolate treat in recent times. You can almost be certain that the two, in any situation, will work together. This Peanut Butter Cup with Reese’s Pieces is no exception to that rule. The original peanut butter can’t be topped in our eyes, but this comes pretty close. The crunch and extra nuttyness are making a very strong case!

 

 

In Third, White Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups!

This is one for all of you with a real sweet tooth! The problem, as we soon discovered when reviewing Reese’s candy, is that no matter the combination, no matter what type of chocolate they coat the peanut butter in, it is never going to be a ‘bad’ product. They just know what they’re doing and they do it better than anyone else. This products silky white chocolate coating is a great compliment to the peanut filling. Try it for yourself!

 

 

 

4th place goes to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup – Big Cup!

 

Is bigger always better? We’re not so convinced. Exactly the same taste and consistency as our winner, however, just a lot bigger! We don’t have the capacity to get through both cups! As much as these are still delicious, we have to take the loss on this one. Definitely a winner for the younger audiences, although Mum and Dad may disagree!

 

 

 

Last but not least is Peanut Butter Cups with Crunch Cookie

We love this product from Reese’s and the only reason for it not being higher is that we love the smooth texture of the originals! This cup contains small crushed cookie chunks throughout the smooth peanut butter layer. We’re sure everyone who is a fan of peanut butter is going to love every one of the products on this list. We strongly recommend you try them all!

 

 

If you enjoyed reading this post why not share the link on social media and give us a follow! We’re constantly getting new and exciting products for our customers to try! We also deliver all over the UK. So if you’re interested in any of your products, place an order today, they go quick!!

 

Here are the links for the sources used to gather our information:

The Fact Site

Mental Floss

 

Where does one start? Breakfast? Yes, that seems an appropriate place to start this weeks blog, as we round up our Top 5 American Cereals.

 

 

 

If you know your stuff, you’ll know that breakfast shouldn’t be skipped and is often said to be your ‘most important meal of the day‘. As somebody that often skips breakfast, probably due to the desire of the extra 10 minutes in bed, I decided to look into whether there is truth behind the sayings mentioned. Turns out, the legend is fact. Apparently, breakfast gives you energy to sharpen the mind and body to start the days tasks! Who’d have thought? So with this in mind, and being that the undisputed champion of breakfast food is cereals, we have decided to rank our Top 5 American Cereals, which are now available to buy in the U.K, from us. Your best friend for all things American!

 

Number 1 on our top 5 American Cereals goes to…

 

Lucky Charms! Luck you! They come in many shapes and sizes, but none come close to the original. Just how they should be. Bold, punchy fruit flavours that turn your bowl of sad soggy cereal into something spectacular. It’s rare to find a product that can sit in your cereal cupboard and be so popular with everyone. So say goodbye to the cardboard tasting frosties and your dull weetabix, introduce some charm into your life. Fruity, crunchy rings with flavoured marshmallow is what is missing to make every morning worth getting out of bed for. Buy Lucky Charms here.

In Second Place:

Fruit Loops! An absolute must have for the kitchen cereal cupboard. You’ve all had Cheerios, right? Everyone has, and yes everyone has the same opinion as you…BORING! There is nothing fun nor lively about them. If you’re like me, and are acknowledging that breakfast is important, then why not make it, at the very least, enjoyable. These gems have been hidden from all of us over here in Britain and WE WON’T STAND FOR IT ANYMORE! These are a staple in the American Cereal section of any of their superstores. And guess what…You can have it too, delivered straight to your doorstep. These fruity tasting puffs are exactly what is missing from your breakfast routine! Get yours here.

 

Taking Home the Bronze:

You’re all familiar with this name by now and if you’re not, crawl out of your cave and explore the wonders of Reese’s, we beg of you! For all of you that have delved deep into the Reese’s family, you are going to want to try these! This American Cereal is slowly becoming part of the furniture with for our friends across the pond! You know the deal…peanut butter and chocolate flavoured cereal. If you can stomach having sweets as a breakfast item then this is the one for you. Tastes just like their much loved Peanut Butter Cups. Delivery, anyone? 

 

 

 

4th Place Goes to:

I could ramble on here about how these are a must have, and should make everyone’s top 5. I could even continue to describe the amazing snap and crunch of the cereal, or how the taste of the cinnamon is perfectly balanced like a fine wine…not too strong to the point where your tongue begins to burn, but just the amount needed to coat your mouth from top to bottom like a dried aged meat to compliment your wine, turning even your milk into a pool of silky cinnamon syrup. Lucky for you, i’ll keep this one short.

Damn it!! Get yours here.

 

 

 

In 5th Place:

A new boy in the American Cereals market, but a throw back to the old school gamer days! Nothing came close to trying to free Princess Peach from the hands of Bowser. Remember racing around Rainbow Road, trying not to fall out the track? Yeah, Mario is iconic for all ages. Try Super Mario cereal now for a morning power up and be ready to beat the traffic, cross the finish line and complete your mission!

You know what to do>

 

For years now the American candy industry has been lead by the dominant force of Hershey’s and their sub brand – Jolly Rancher. A timeless classic of a treat. When the words ‘American candy’ are ever said in conversation, you can bet money on it, the neon blue colour of a Jolly Rancher soda is what springs to mind!

What’s so special?

Well, let us tell you…Cast your mind to any american brand of confectionery, be it Betty Crocker, Pringles, or even Reese’s. Ask yourself; What do they all have in common? Yes, they are all great brands and they all produce some great candy and confectionery…But the common denominator here is that they all do only one type of product. Reese’s – Peanut Butter and Chocolate, Betty Crocker – Baking goods, Pringles – Crisps. You see our point?

The magic and allure of the Jolly Rancher products is that they DON’T just do one style of product. They do it all! A brand in which we all love and trust, but scatters themselves into a plethora of categories. Jolly Rancher drinks, Jolly Rancher hard candy, Jolly Rancher Pop Tarts, Jolly Rancher Chewing Gum…The list goes on and on.

In our humble opinion, this is great! No matter what you fancy, in Jolly Rancher you will find a product that will be exactly what you are looking for and they will provide you with that peace of mind that it will be tasty and leave you wanting more.

What you want, Jolly Rancher’s got it!

We pride ourselves on our stock and our ability to keep stocked. That means that we will have what you are after. Following the theme of this blog, below is a small list of a few of our favourite Jolly Rancher items that we currently have stocked.

1.  Blue Raspberry Soda. A true classic of the Jolly Rancher soda range. Take yourself back to your childhood days, playing in a field with your friends with the sun beaming down. A cool Blue Raspberry Jolly Rancher to top of one of the best afternoons you can have as a child.
2. Jolly Rancher – Original Hard Candy. Until you try these fruity sweets, you wouldn’t believe us if we delved in to try and explain the crazy amount of fruit flavours that burst through. Flavours include, cherry, grape, green apple, watermelon, and of course, blue raspberry.
3. Bubble Yum & Jolly Rancher Blue Raspberry Gum. Bubble Yum and Jolly Rancher teamed up to bring up a long lasting gum packed pull of fruit flavour. Available in Blue Raspberry, its sure to go down a treat.

 

We’ve let you know our thoughts on these sweet treats, why not try them and see if you agree.

 

P-Nuff Crunch– The new American Snack you need to know about! P-nuff Crunch is a baked peanut puff snack that is healthy, nutritious and delicious. Created and developed with one goal in mind – to provide the american snack market with a healthy and delicious tasting option to keep you, and your feeling full and satisfied.

 

 

P-nuff, a roasted peanut and puffed rice snack, produces their tasty puffs primarily for the American snack and grocery market. Here at American Grocery Store, we have been fortunate enough to have tried these early and we thought, wow! Why aren’t these available in the U.K?

Ladies and Gents, we have worked or magic once again! You can now get your hands on P-Nuff’s snacks directly through us.

 

Why are we so excited to introduce this tasty American snack?

They are targeting the health market, so keeping this in mind, P-Nuff’s boast great nutritional value, with only 2 grams of sugar and a great 5 grams of protein per serving!

The want for peanut flavoured products has continuously grown and grown in the U.K, and rightly so…a great source of protein and natural fats! All you fitness fanatics will know the value of a handful of peanuts as a mid-day snack! Plus in our eyes, anything with peanut as the main flavouring will always taste great.

All though perhaps a more modern trend in the U.K, American snacks and treats have often included nuts, be it almond, peanut, cashew or even pistachio! They have been widely popular for some amount of time now with our friends from across the pond.

Did you know, former President Bill Clinton says one of his favourite sandwiches is peanut butter and banana?  It’s also reported to have been a favourite of Elvis “the King” Presley. Living like a King whilst looking out for your health? Sounds like a win-win to us…

The greatness of the Crunch doesn’t stop there. P-Nuff contains complete vegan protein and complex carbohydrates to sustain an active lifestyle for both children and adults, fibre for satiety and gut health and Peanut Oil for heart health. Being made from Navy Beans, Peanuts and brown rice, P-nuffs provide all 9 essential amino acids, which in turn, aid in building and repairing  muscle tissue. A great source of energy and  proven to support proper growth in children. An American snack you don’t feel bad about eating – no matter what flavour you decide to go for…

 

What’s that I hear? There is more than one flavour? Yes. Yes there is.

 

 

This nutritious american snack, now available to order through us, comes in 3 tempting flavours – ‘Original’, ‘Cocoa’ and ‘Cinnamon’. Try the original if you love peanut butter, its like eating it out of the jar without feeling as if you’re being judged for your potentially gross journey to the kitchen cupboard! Or why not try the Cinnamon for a twist on the classic? Or if you’re at all like us -with bad chocolate habits – try their Cocoa flavour to satisfy that sweet tooth.

‘P-Nuff’ of the usual unhealthy American snacks, and make way for something that gives back.

The Super Bowl is an exciting annual sporting event not just for Americans but for people worldwide ready to watch the league champion for the NFL season. Whether you’re a huge fan of American football, or don’t know your offense from your defense, the Super Bowl is the ideal time to chill out with your mates, bet on a team and eat your weight in American snacks.

 

Host an amazing Super Bowl party with all the best American snacks to keep your energy up until the end of the game! Order today or tomorrow with next day delivery to ensure you have all the goldfish snacks, beef jerky, Snyders Pretzel Pieces, Popcorn seasoning, pickles, and all the alternative flavours of American Pringles (have you tried the Dill Pickle variety?). Choose from a big range of American soda too.

For further information or to discuss any special requirements please complete the contact form or send us an email at admin@americangrocerystore.com.

Introducing the American Grocery Store, your one-stop shop for finding all of the best goodies from across the pond. 

 

The Growler family have been buying, selling and shipping food for well over a century, gathering a wealth of knowledge on the way. We have launched a site to sell YOU the products we know you want, not loads of items WE THINK you might like.

 

We’ve designed the site so you can always find your favourites. Check out our New Arrivals for seasonal classics, offers, and limited edition items.

 

After something in particular? Peruse our brands to source just what you need. For some inspiration, you can also check out everything we offer by the type of food to try, or something new.

 

Fancy something sweet? Candyholix has it all! Scroll through countless candy options or browse by type or brand to really satisfy your sweet tooth.

 

Our newly designed website sports bright and engaging imagery to showcase all of our products. Plus, it’s easy to navigate and complete with sliding category boxes. You can find links on the header as well as the footer for quick navigation. The interactive movements give our website a modern take on an authentic (and old) grocery store.

 

While you’re here, be sure to check out Our Story, the Park Rules, and head over to our FAQs for any answers you need, or questions you wish to ask.

 

R Growler (the second).

We often get asked why it’s called “root beer.” Over the years, I have also heard many replies, rumours, and myths as to where it got its name. The main theme being that it is descended from a herbal remedy with magical powers to cure ailments.

 

Well, there is an element of truth in this. Food historians say that the first rendition of root beer was actually referred to as “small beer.” Shakespeare even mentions it. Likewise, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington also enjoyed small beer, sometimes even with breakfast. The small beer recipe varied over time but was always a fermented tea brewed with bark, berries, and herbs. This tipple was widely popular in medieval Europe because water pollution was so common and made people sick.

 

From there, it became the task of many 19th century pharmacists to develop a miracle “cure-all” drug. In fact, many of the soda brands available today began with these attempts, including Coca-Cola. Some food historians believe that root beer was among these attempts as it was offered as a syrup to accompany their cordial. It most likely tasted much like the cough syrup of today.

 

Charles Hires is credited as the creator of root beer, although many varieties existed at the time. However, he actually sold dry packages of the tea mixture to consumers in his drug store. Then, he came up with a liquid concentrate that people could mix in their water. It was called Hires Root Tea.

 

Fast forward to 1919, Roy W Allen honoured the war veterans’ homecoming parade with a root beer stall in Lodi, California. He used a recipe from a local pharmacist and it was very successful. He went on to open an additional five market stalls. In an intelligent business move, he soon partnered with Frank Wright and they together opened a chain of franchised restaurants. Using their initials, A&W Root Beer was born.

 

Their franchise grew to 170 different restaurants and one was owned by Alice and John Marriott. Based on the success of the restaurant, they opened the Marriott Hotel next door. Suffice to say, business boomed.

 

Nowadays, root beer is enjoyed by the masses for is sweet and rich flavour. In addition to its vibrant history, it also has an interesting present. Root beer can come alcoholic or non-alcoholic, carbonated or not, or even paired with ice cream for a delicious root beer float.

We all know Duncan Hines as the brand for delicious and fluffy cakes that are a cinch to make. However, there’s more to this brand than just the box.

 

Duncan Hines, born in 1880, was actually a travelling salesman from Bowling Green, Kentucky. Of course, life on the road meant living from hotel to hotel and eating at roadside restaurants. With the good food came the bad which was the perfect content for his 1935 book, the Adventures of Good Eating. He later went on to publish books on the best hotels and motels throughout America.

 

Adventures of Good Eating took the reader on a tour through his favourite places and highlighted all the best dishes. With this under his belt, Hines was inspired to bring great food to everyone. He teamed up with Roy Park to establish Hines-Park Foods Inc. Eventually bought out by Proctor & Gamble, the Duncan Hines label lived on and introduced a line of cake mixes.

 

With such a great devotion to great American food, a section of Route 31 West in Bowling Green was named after him. It is officially known as the Duncan Hines Highway.

 Do you know Betty Crocker? If you’re trying to imagine the woman on the food label, you’re on the right track. In fact, that’s the only place anyone has seen her. The name Betty Crocker was actually developed by Washburn Crosby Company, a flour milling business in America. In 1921, they came up with a successful way to market their products. By using the name Betty Crocker, they gave a personalised touch to their consumers. The legendary figure actually takes the surname of William Crocker, one of the directors of the Washburn Crosby Company.

 

Betty would field questions about how to ensure cakes will rise and get the fluffiest pancakes. She’d even share her favourite recipes with the public. Her popularity soared and she became the face of the brand, literally. A depiction of Betty Crocker, to represent a wholesome and knowledgeable American homemaker, adorned their packaging and marketing.

 

However, Betty Crocker is not based on any single woman. The painted portrait actually combines 75 real women, all with diverse backgrounds and a range of ages. With subtle changes over time, Betty always looked sophisticated with short brown hair and the iconic red jacket with white shirt.

 

These days, Betty Crocker’s iconic portrait has since been replaced with a red spoon that bears her name. However, she lives on through all of the delicious recipes.