Some New England-born confections are well known to the point of icon status (think Boston Cream Pie or Necco Wafers), but others, for whatever reason, have grown — like kids that went away to college and never came back home — to the point where they’ve lost much of their original New England affiliation. One prime example […]
By Aimee Tucker|Apr 21 2015|
Coffee By Design | Portland, Maine
Photo Credit : Katherine Keenan
Some New England-born confections are well known to the point of icon status (think Boston Cream Pie or Necco Wafers), but others, for whatever reason, have grown — like kids that went away to college and never came back home — to the point where they’ve lost much of their original New England affiliation. One prime example (two, in fact) is the sweet sibling duo of Mounds and Almond Joy.
Mounds and Almond Joy = Sweet Sister Candy Bars! Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
Did you know that both bars come from Connecticut?
Mounds and Almond Joy have been a part of the Hershey’s family since 1988, but before that, they (along with the York Peppermint Patty) were part of the Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing Company. Founded by a group that included namesake Peter Paul Halajian in New Haven in 1919, the company went on to have decades of sweet success from its plant in Naugatuck (including merging with Cadbury in 1978) before being sold to Hershey’s.
Peter Paul debuted Mounds, a dark chocolate-covered coconut candy bar, in 1921 (named “Mounds” for its shape), and Almond Joy in 1946, after WWII had ended and access to rationed sugar and coconut was restored. Almond Joy used the same coconut center as Mounds, but with whole almonds pressed into the top and with a coating of milk chocolate instead of dark. Here, we’re showing the mini “snack size” versions, but both come in a regular size bar, too.
Mounds are covered in dark chocolate, Almond Joy milk chocolate. Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
The candies share similar packaging and usually appear together in ads, most notably in the famous 1970s (and 80s, and 90s…) campaign that included the jingle, “Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t / Almond Joy’s got nuts / Mounds don’t.” If it wasn’t in your head already by this point, then we suspect it probably will be now…
Miniature Almond Joy bars are topped with a single whole almond. Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
Even with the sale to Hershey’s in the late 80s, the Peter Paul plant in Naugatuck remained operational until Hershey’s announced in 2007 that it would be closing, with all Mounds and Almond Joy production moved to Virginia. The plant closed later that year and the factory was torn down in 2011.
Both Mounds and Almond Joy may have found nationwide success that has taken them beyond their original New England roots, but that’s no reason not to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of the Peter Paul Company and the bars’ status as classic New England-born treats, is it? And what better way to celebrate than with something sweet?
Which brings us to our final question…when the craving for coconut hits, do you find yourself feeling more like a nut…or not? We’d love to know.
Loved your article about Peter Paul.I grew up in Naugatuck and Peter Paul employed most of my family for many years. My dad,Frank Altieri, was the cook and actually knew the “secret” formula for the candies. As a little girl,I could not wait for my parents to bring home boxes of seconds for their friends. I would go to the bottom layer and have my fill before they noticed any gone. I rode by that factory many times and saw my dad in the window.Even after his death I could picture him there.The town was heartbroken when Peter Paul was leveled…worse than the day the chemists came in to redo the formula and it was the beginning of the end.
They have been my favorites since I was old enough to go to the neighborhood candy/convenience store for a “treat”…. sometimes, I feel like a nut, sometimes I don’t!
They may have been better prior chemists, but like all things of childhood years were remembered to be better….
A few years ago, they had developed a “seasonal” bar – white chocolate/lime/coconut…. at first the idea was repulsive, sacrilegious! How could they do that to my old favorite candy???… Well, I tried them, as I can’t honestly tell someone I don’t like something if I haven’t tried it. So, I picked up a bag of the mini’s to hand out to customers where I worked, and promptly tried one …. OMG! I couldn’t stop eating them! After they got me addicted, never saw them on market again….
Best thing about that fleeting new Almond Joy bar, that became so elusive? I never gained a ton of weight!
Problem now is Mounds now made with coconut flakes { or sawdust} not the flavorful moist shredded coconut of just a few years ago. It seems to me Hershey’s is a big enough company to contract for moist shredded coconut which has not been robbed of the natural coconut oils pressed out by the greed of cooking oil users and producers.
Loved watching the commercials – Sometimes you feel like a nut.
Sadly, these bars were never sold in Canada Eh !!
We would love to warm up to these chocolate treats
during our extreme cold winters.
Grew up near naugatuck CT…always loved mounds…bought the small mounds today ..so disappointed just looking at it..flat and small ..not appetizing at all…then I tasted it .tasted about as good as it looked…I guess you just joined the crowd…can’t help thinking one day all these greedy companies will be sorry .. people are not stupid
It’s a shame that my kids won’t ever enjoy the same almond joy and mounds from when I was little. The flavor and quality is not the same. Hershey really should try harder.
In the 70’s a milk chocolate mounds was introduced and failed. I would love to see a dark chocolate Almond Joy.
IOW I feel like a nut, but prefer dark chocolate.
I grew up in Naugatuck and played Little League at the ball field behind the Peter Paul Co on New Haven Road. Enjoyed many a Mounds and Almond Joy back then in the 60$. I just saw an as on TV for the candy bars and the memories flooded my mind. Great company and even opened a share of stock in company bought by a friends father. Sad to see the plant go away but progress stops for no man. It still is a great candy bar. Years later I met the owner of NECCO’s in Massachusetts on Cape. Cod. Think he bought a Lincoln or a Mercury from dealership I worked at tin the 80s. Oh well ” I feel like a nut” but today no chocolate for me unless it’s dark 70% so I would go for a Mounds on occasion. Funny thing memories. I loved playing baseball as a kid and seeing the chocolate factory. Always out a smile on our faces.
Loved your article about Peter Paul.I grew up in Naugatuck and Peter Paul employed most of my family for many years. My dad,Frank Altieri, was the cook and actually knew the “secret” formula for the candies. As a little girl,I could not wait for my parents to bring home boxes of seconds for their friends. I would go to the bottom layer and have my fill before they noticed any gone. I rode by that factory many times and saw my dad in the window.Even after his death I could picture him there.The town was heartbroken when Peter Paul was leveled…worse than the day the chemists came in to redo the formula and it was the beginning of the end.
Mary Ann Williamson
I always love Mats Almond bars!
They have been my favorites since I was old enough to go to the neighborhood candy/convenience store for a “treat”…. sometimes, I feel like a nut, sometimes I don’t!
They may have been better prior chemists, but like all things of childhood years were remembered to be better….
A few years ago, they had developed a “seasonal” bar – white chocolate/lime/coconut…. at first the idea was repulsive, sacrilegious! How could they do that to my old favorite candy???… Well, I tried them, as I can’t honestly tell someone I don’t like something if I haven’t tried it. So, I picked up a bag of the mini’s to hand out to customers where I worked, and promptly tried one …. OMG! I couldn’t stop eating them! After they got me addicted, never saw them on market again….
Best thing about that fleeting new Almond Joy bar, that became so elusive? I never gained a ton of weight!
Problem now is Mounds now made with coconut flakes { or sawdust} not the flavorful moist shredded coconut of just a few years ago. It seems to me Hershey’s is a big enough company to contract for moist shredded coconut which has not been robbed of the natural coconut oils pressed out by the greed of cooking oil users and producers.
I remember the smell as we drove by the plant. A friend of y mother’s used to bring us “seconds” in big boxes. How we loved to see Mike’s car pull up.
Joyce BArber (tucker)
Loved watching the commercials – Sometimes you feel like a nut.
Sadly, these bars were never sold in Canada Eh !!
We would love to warm up to these chocolate treats
during our extreme cold winters.
Grew up near naugatuck CT…always loved mounds…bought the small mounds today ..so disappointed just looking at it..flat and small ..not appetizing at all…then I tasted it .tasted about as good as it looked…I guess you just joined the crowd…can’t help thinking one day all these greedy companies will be sorry .. people are not stupid
Will never buy or eat a fake mounds of almond joy bring back the orignal
It’s a shame that my kids won’t ever enjoy the same almond joy and mounds from when I was little. The flavor and quality is not the same. Hershey really should try harder.
In the 70’s a milk chocolate mounds was introduced and failed. I would love to see a dark chocolate Almond Joy.
IOW I feel like a nut, but prefer dark chocolate.
Why do you on only advertise almond joy. I love mounds and you never show them. I love the dark chocolate with coconut.
I grew up in Naugatuck and played Little League at the ball field behind the Peter Paul Co on New Haven Road. Enjoyed many a Mounds and Almond Joy back then in the 60$. I just saw an as on TV for the candy bars and the memories flooded my mind. Great company and even opened a share of stock in company bought by a friends father. Sad to see the plant go away but progress stops for no man. It still is a great candy bar. Years later I met the owner of NECCO’s in Massachusetts on Cape. Cod. Think he bought a Lincoln or a Mercury from dealership I worked at tin the 80s. Oh well ” I feel like a nut” but today no chocolate for me unless it’s dark 70% so I would go for a Mounds on occasion. Funny thing memories. I loved playing baseball as a kid and seeing the chocolate factory. Always out a smile on our faces.
Almond Joy is my favorite! Mounds are okay, but I think adding an almond to the center would make them much better.