Editing Peeps (section)

==History==
===R. E. Rodda Candy Company===
The R.E. Rodda Candy Company (347 Church Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania) was founded in 1908, capitalized at $300,000 by financiers from Baltimore, New York, Cincinnati and several Pennsylvania cities.<ref>"A New Industry: The R. E. Rodda Company Will Begin with 100 Employees". ''Lancaster Intelligencer Journal'', 22 August 1908, 1.</ref> Roscoe E. Rodda (1862-1941), a Board of Directors member and its first president, had previously managed candy manufacture in Detroit and Cincinnati. By 1915 the firm was shipping high-quality products nationwide and to South America and Europe.<ref>"Rodda Secures the Controlling Interest in Headley Company". ''Lancaster (PA) Examiner'', 22 December 1915, 8.</ref>

By the 1930s-40s, its products included chocolates, hard candies, jelly beans and "jelly eggs". It is uncertain when manufacture of marshmallow items began, but by 1948—and previous to any association of the product with Sam Born or [[Just Born]]—Pennsylvania retailers were selling "Rodda marshmallow peeps" <ref>"Shuman's Cut Rate Store—With Everything For Easter". ''Gettysburg Times'', 12 March 1948, 2 ("Rodda Marshmallow Peeps")</ref> or "Rodda Easter peeps".<ref>"Grand Union is Tops at Keeping Prices Low" (advertisement). ''The Times-Leader'' (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania), 3 April 1952, 18 ("Rodda Easter Peeps").</ref><ref>"A&P Super Markets" (advertisement). ''The Express'' (Lock Haven, Pennsylvania), 10 April 1952, 15 ("Rodda Peeps—sugar coated marshmallow 'peeps'").</ref>

Though [[Just Born]] took over manufacture in 1953 and developed speedy, mechanized production, the product was retailed nationally for decades in the U.S. as "Rodda Marshmallow Peeps" or "Rodda Easter Peeps", retaining the Rodda name into the mid-1990s.<ref>"Tinker's Bigg and Little" (advertisement, ''Stockton (CA) Record'', 8 April 1963, 24 ("Rodda Easter Peeps—Candy Bunnies and Chicks").</ref><ref>"Gibson's Discount Center" (advertisement). ''The Sunday News and Tribune'' (Jefferson City, Missouri),  22 March 1970, 12 ("Rodda Marshmallow Peeps and Rabbits").</ref><ref>"Eckerd Easter Savings" (advertisement). ''Galveston Daily News'', 15 April 1981, 10 ("Rodda Peeps or Bunnies").</ref><ref>"Bargains in Bloom" (Valu-Rite Pharmacy advertisement). ''Indiana (PA) Gazette'', 27 March 1996, 11 ("Rodda© Marshmallow Peeps and Bunnies").</ref>

===Just Born===
[[File:Just Born building, Bethlehem, PA.jpg|thumb|Where Peeps are made. Just Born in Bethelem, Pennsylvania]]
Peeps are presently produced by [[Just Born]],<ref>{{cite web |author=Lehner, Marla |title=The Power of Peeps |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/the-power-of-peeps |work=[[Fox News]] |date=2003-04-17 |access-date=2009-04-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305185448/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C84455%2C00.html |archive-date=2009-03-05 }}</ref> a candy manufacturer founded in [[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem]], [[Pennsylvania]], by an immigrant from [[Vinnitsa]] in the [[Russian Empire]] (now in [[Ukraine]]), [[Sam Born]] (1891–1959).

In 1953, Just Born acquired the Rodda Candy Company and its marshmallow chick line. Sam's son, [[Bob Born]], replaced the painstaking process of hand-forming the chicks with mass production in 1954.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dupzyk |first1=Kevin |others=Photographs by Christopher Payne |title=A Visit to the Peeps Factory |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/06/magazine/peeps-factory.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 6, 2023 |quote=That all changed in 1954. That’s when Bob Born, who was a member of the family that founded the company, and a colleague invented a machine that could make Peeps automatically.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Peeps: A candy and a technological wonder |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-04-16-peeps_x.htm |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=2003-04-16 |access-date=2009-04-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401094214/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-04-16-peeps_x.htm |archive-date=2010-04-01 }}</ref> When founder Sam Born displayed a sign for his freshly made candy, he titled it "Just Born", playing off of his last name and the fact that he made his candy fresh daily.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.justborn.com/just-for-fun/fun-facts|title=Fun Facts About Just Born Candies|date=28 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140128153913/http://www.justborn.com/just-for-fun/fun-facts|access-date=21 November 2021|archive-date=2014-01-28}}</ref> According to Mary Bellis, the newly purchased company, Just Born, was soon the "largest marshmallow candy manufacturer in the world".

Just Born began producing other shapes in the 1960s, following seasonal themes. Twenty years later, the Marshmallow Peeps Bunny was released as a popular year-round shape of the candy.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://inventors.about.com/od/foodrelatedinventions/a/marshmallows_2.htm|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120427200713/http://inventors.about.com/od/foodrelatedinventions/a/marshmallows_2.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 April 2012|title=The History of Marshmallows|website=Inventors.about.com|access-date=21 November 2021}}</ref> The yellow chicks were the original form of the candy&nbsp;— hence their name&nbsp;— but then the company introduced other colors and, eventually, the myriad shapes that are now produced. Peeps were manufactured in different colors, such as lavender starting in 1995 and blue in 1998. Prior to that, they were only being produced in the traditional colors: yellow, pink and white. New flavors such as vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate were introduced between the years of 1999 and 2002.<ref name="auto"/>
[[File:Peeps Fun Bus.jpg|thumb|The Peeps Fun Bus]]
In 2003, the Peeps Fun Bus conducted a tour across the country to promote the brand.  The tour included giveaways and games and was decorated with a giant Peep on the top of the bus.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-03-24 |title=Peeps fun bus |url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Peeps-fun-bus-9758914.php |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=Chron |language=en}}</ref>

In 2009, Just Born expanded the Peeps product line further by introducing Peeps Lip Balm in four flavors: grape, strawberry, vanilla, and cotton candy.<ref>{{cite web 
 |author=Zimmer, Erin 
 |title=Peeps Lip Balm, Reviewed 
 |website = Serious Eats
 |date=April 2, 2009 
 |url=http://www.seriouseats.com/2009/04/peeps-lip-balm-reviewed.html 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405062416/http://www.seriouseats.com/2009/04/peeps-lip-balm-reviewed.html 
 |archive-date=April 5, 2009 
 |access-date=April 5, 2009 
 }}</ref> Just Born has come out with several other various accessories. Items such as nail polish, wrist bands, umbrellas, plush toys, golf gloves, earrings, and necklaces are produced and sold online and in retail stores. Other companies have produced items based on the popular Peeps candy. Peeps micro bead pillows were made by Kaboodle and conform to one's shape. The company Kaboodle promises that "they'll last a lot longer than their edible counterpart!"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/large-peeps-microbead-pillows|title=Large Peeps® Microbead Pillows &#124; Shop &#124; Kaboodle|date=9 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109193534/http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/large-peeps-microbead-pillows|access-date=21 November 2021|archive-date=2014-01-09}}</ref> Ranging from infant sizes to adult sizes, Peeps Halloween costumes can also be found on the shelves of several costume stores. The first Peeps & Co. store opened in November 2009 in National Harbor, Maryland, [[Prince George's County]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Mui, Ylan Q. |title=Peeps Are Hopping to Their Own Store at National Harbor |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/08/AR2009070803978.html?hpid=artslot |work=WashingtonPost.com |date=July 9, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112053013/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/08/AR2009070803978.html?hpid=artslot |archive-date=November 12, 2012 }}</ref> Peeps & Company retail stores were later opened in Minnesota (as of 2019, shut down due to low profits) and Pennsylvania.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/the-history-of-peeps|title=The history of Peeps|date=21 November 2016|website=Foxnews.com|access-date=21 November 2021}}</ref> In 2014, Peeps Minis were introduced, and were intended to be available year-round.

In 2023, [[Bob Born]], a son of the Just Born founder, died at age 98. He was known as the "Father of Peeps" for automating the production of Peeps.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bob Born, the 'Father of Peeps' and Hot Tamale candies, has died |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/01/31/1152833849/bob-born-dies-father-of-peeps-hot-tamales-just-born-quality-confections |newspaper=[[The Associated Press]] |date=January 31, 2023}}</ref>
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==Seasonal products==
{{advert|section|date=April 2015}}
Peeps released special flavored Peeps depending on the holiday/season. In the summer, sweet lemonade and bubblegum-flavored Marshmallow Chicks are manufactured. For Valentine’s Day, Peeps produces a variety of marshmallow treats, such as Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Crème Flavored Chicks, Chocolate Mousse Flavored Marshmallow Bears, and Chocolate Covered Raspberry Flavored Heart. Come Easter, all the original Marshmallow Chicks and Bunnies are released, as well as other ones, such as Chocolate Mousse Flavored Bunnies and Chocolate Dipped Marshmallow Chicks. During Halloween, no Marshmallow Bunnies are released; however, Chocolate-Dipped Orange Chicks, Marshmallow Pumpkins, Marshmallow Ghosts, Chocolate Mousse Flavored Cats, and Snack-Size Marshmallow Chicks are put on shelves for sale. A new release as of 2013, the Snack-Size Marshmallow Chicks are intended for passing out to trick-or-treaters on [[Halloween]] and come in various colors including purple, green, and orange. Christmas brings several different flavors and colors. Chocolate-Dipped Candy Cane Flavored Marshmallow Chicks, Chocolate-Dipped Sugar Cookie Flavored Marshmallow Chicks, Chocolate-Dipped Caramel Flavored Marshmallow Chicks, and Gingerbread Flavored Marshmallow Gingerbread Men are all released specially flavored to the [[Christmas]] theme. Different shapes, including Marshmallow Candy Cane Flavored Stars, Marshmallow Reindeer, Marshmallow Christmas Trees, and Marshmallow Snowmen are also produced.<ref>http://www.marshmallowpeeps.com/product-detail/halloween/snack-size-marshmallow-chicks {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>
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