Peter
Paul

Peter Paul Manufacturing Company, founded in 1919, moved operations to Naugatuck, Connecticut, in 1922. It became an essential part of the local economy, producing iconic candies like Mounds and Almond Joy. The company thrived for decades, employing many residents and becoming a staple of the community's identity.

In 1978, Hershey acquired Peter Paul, and while the factory remained operational under Hershey's ownership, economic changes eventually led to its closure. The plant officially shut down in 2007, shifting production to other locations, including Virginia.

This closure marked the end of an era for Naugatuck, as Peter Paul had been one of the town’s largest employers and taxpayers for over 80 years.

Peter Paul

Early Beginnings

  • Peter Paul Halajian, an Armenian immigrant, arrived in America in the 1890s.

  • While working at a local rubber factory, he sold homemade sweets at the Naugatuck Train Station.

  • In 1919, Halajian and five Armenian friends pooled resources to start a candy company in New Haven, CT. Their first product was the Konabar—a chocolate-covered blend of coconut, fruits, and nuts.

Expansion and Relocation to Naugatuck

  • In 1920, the company introduced Mounds bars, which quickly became a hit.

  • With demand surging, the company sought to expand. When New Haven banks declined financing, the Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce helped Halajian secure a loan from a local bank.

  • In 1922, Peter Paul Manufacturing relocated to Naugatuck, where the factory thrived for decades.

Candy Products Timeline

  1. Konabar (1919)

    • A chocolate-covered mix of coconut, nuts, and fruit.

  2. Mounds (1920)

    • Sweetened coconut covered in dark chocolate, still produced today.

  3. Dreams (1934)

    • Almonds and coconut in dark chocolate, named by a Naugatuck High School student.

  4. Main Show (1934)

    • A mix of sweetened coconut and peanut butter, covered in milk chocolate.

  5. Almond Joy (1948)

    • Coconut topped with almonds, coated in milk chocolate. The 1955 slogan, "Indescribably Delicious," was coined by Leon Weiss.

World War II Challenges

  • During WWII, Peter Paul faced disruptions when the Philippines, their primary coconut source, was occupied by Japanese forces​.

  • The company pivoted to source coconuts from the Caribbean and ship them to Florida for processing.

  • To avoid German submarine attacks, Peter Paul used a fleet of old wooden schooners—dubbed the Flea Fleet—to transport the coconuts. These ships also carried supplies and reported enemy sightings on return voyages.

Purchases, Mergers, and the End of the Factory

  • 1972: Peter Paul acquired York Cone Company, adding York Peppermint Patties to its product line.

  • 1978: The company was purchased by Cadbury-Schweppes.

  • 1988: Hershey acquired Peter Paul from Cadbury-Schweppes and continued production in Naugatuck.

  • 2007: Hershey closed the Naugatuck factory as part of a strategy to reduce costs and streamline operations​.

  • 2011: The factory was demolished to make the property more attractive for potential buyers and redevelopment opportunities​.

The Influence of Tropical Plants 
on Naugatuck’s Growth

The success of the Peter Paul Candy Company reflects the town’s surprising dependence on tropical crops like coconuts, cocoa, and sugar. These ingredients, essential to popular products such as Mounds and Almond Joy bars, connected Naugatuck to global supply chains and trade networks, making tropical agriculture critical to the local economy.

The Role of Tropical Ingredients

  • Coconut

    Sourced from regions like the Philippines and the Caribbean, coconut was the defining feature of Mounds and Almond Joy bars. By the 1930s, Peter Paul became the world’s largest consumer of coconuts, reinforcing the company’s reliance on tropical imports.

  • Cocoa

    The chocolate coating came from cocoa beans grown in West Africa, the Caribbean, and South America.

  • Sugar

    Sugar was harvested from sugarcane plantations, often in Cuba and Brazil, and was another key ingredient.

During World War II, when the Japanese occupation of the Philippines cut off their primary coconut supply, Peter Paul turned to Caribbean islands for coconuts.

Marketing and Economic Impact

Peter Paul used the allure of tropical imagery in their advertisements, like the 1950 ad from Look Magazine, to emphasize the exotic appeal of their candy. By linking their products to far-off places, the company created a sense of indulgence for consumers. This marketing strategy resonated with mid-century American consumers, who were drawn to the romance of tropical destinations.

Peter Paul’s success demonstrates how local economies can thrive through global trade. Without access to these tropical crops, Naugatuck would not have achieved the industrial prominence it enjoyed.

Resources

Gagliardi, R. (2004). Naugatuck Revisited (CT). Arcadia Publishing.

  • Page 55 – "The Influence of Tropical Plants on Naugatuck." Available in Naugatuck Historical Society Archives.

Joel. Peter Paul Mounds. Retrieved from https://www.foodpassages.com/jottings-by-joel/jottings/peter-paul-mounds/

Hartford Courant. (2007, April 26). A Not So Sweet Ending in Naugatuck.

Hartford Courant. (2007, May 5). Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow.

Pugliese, G. Peter Paul’s Path to Sweet Success. Connecticut Explored. Retrieved from https://www.ctexplored.org/peter-pauls-path-to-sweet-success/