The History of Goldenberg's Peanut Chews

by Hannah Brelsford

For over 100 years, since 1917, the delicacy of Goldenberg's Peanut Chews has captured the hearts of the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia. This unique peanut candy was created by David Goldenberg, a Romanian immigrant, and his small candy store which was located on Frankford Avenue in Philly.

The smell of the roasting peanuts wafted over the city each day when the candy was being produced. Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews were first made with the intention to be used as a ration bar for US troops during World War I.

This sweet treat served as both a high source of energy and protein while also being yummy to eat for the soldiers.

The recipe consisted of a mixture of roasted peanuts and molasses that was covered with dark chocolate.

The dark chocolate made it so the chocolate was less likely to melt in transport to the troops, unlike milk chocolate would have. It then had its first retail sale in 1921. Soon after that, the full-size candy bar was changed to small individual pieces and a milk chocolate version was also added to shelves.

In 1949, the Peanut Chews Division split off from its parent company under the new management of Harry and Sylvia Goldenberg. The candy underwent another management change in 2003 when it was sold to Just Born, the tenth-largest candy company in the world. Just Born, who now manufactures Goldenberg's Peanut Chews, is also known for making Mike and Ikes, Peeps, and Hot Tamales.

When Just Born first bought Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews they attempted to rebrand in order to advertise to customers on a national basis as opposed to their solely regional fanbase. They changed the logo and color scheme, removed the “Goldenberg’s” from the name, and marketed specifically to young adults.

The rebranding caused regional customers to not recognize their favorite candy, so instead of dramatic growth, sales plummeted. To gain back their regional fan base they brought back the “Goldenberg’s” and returned to the branding that everyone recognized. They are now most popular in cities such as Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and Tampa.

Time has changed but not much about Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews has. They still have their original recipe and are made in their hometown, Philadelphia.

The peanut chews have added an additional flavor though, Milk Chocolatey. In fact, about 1.2 million peanut chew pieces, dark and milk chocolate, are produced daily and 44,000 pounds of whole peanuts are used weekly just to make them. From being a popular snack for soldiers to a home favorite in Philly, it’s safe to say that people are nutty for Goldenberg’s peanut chews.

The Process of the Peanut Chew to You!

Step 1: In the cooking area, the process starts by making the heart and core of the bar, the peanut-molasses center. They mix the peanuts, syrup, and other ingredients all together in what they like to call the “hopper”.
Step 2: The mix from the “hopper” is then deposited onto the stainless steel belt into one big sheet of peanuts and sugar (yum).
Step 3. Then the sheet goes through a coolant tunnel and rollers to cool the bar, press down the peanuts, and create a uniform size and shape.
Step 4: To get the iconic Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews shape they cut rows into the big sheets both horizontally and vertically with specific measurements for each.
Step 5: Now it's time for the best part, to cover the little chews with chocolate! All of the pieces enter an enrobing stage where they are engulfed in chocolate.
Step 6: Once the chocolate is on the bars it's time to make it stick so all the pieces are shot with air and then go through a final coolant tunnel.
Step 7: Now that the candy is finished it’s time for the iconic Goldenberg finish, the packaging. The candies are then wrapped either individually or together depending on what product they are producing.
Step 8: It is finally time for the most important step. Once the candy is wrapped it is put in boxes and shipped out into our stomachs.

Text Sources:

https://www.peanutchews.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldenberg%27s_Peanut_Chews

https://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/ed-goldenberg-goldenberg-candy-co-execuive-peanut-chews-family-business-died-20200506.html

Image Sources:

https://www.inc.com/magazine/201207/issie-lapowsky/branding-goldenbergs-peanut-chews.html

https://www.peanutchews.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smY-TTfb2rc