What does PEZ really stand for? The word PEZ was made from the first, middle, and last letter of the German word for peppermint, Pfefferminz. Pez was created in Vienna, Austria in 1927 by a man named Edward Haas III. However, the invention of the PEZ dispenser did not occur until 1948. PEZ were only available in peppermint and were targeted at adult smokers. That is why the first dispensers, called regulars, were shaped like a cigarette lighter.
In the 1970's, Hass Food Manufacturing Corporation changed their name to PEZ Candy Inc. PEZ was brought to the United States in 1952, as a marketing strategy to catch a new audience, children. The combination of fruit flavored candy and character headed dispensers have brought PEZ dispensers into the homes of millions. Over 300 different character heads have been introduced since 1952. In 1972, PEZ Co. moved its base camp from New York to Orange, Cooecticut, where the business currently remains. |
