mr peanut through the years gif

The PLANTERS® Brand Through The Years

1900s

Amedeo Obici Founder of Planters

1906

Obici, along with his friend and business partner, Mario Peruzzi, founded the PLANTERS® brand Peanut Company in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

1910s

Planters Sal in shell

The PLANTERS® brand introduced semitransparent bags that enhanced the freshness and allowed people to preview the peanuts inside.

1913

Obici built his first mass-processing plant in Suffolk, VA.

1916

The MR. PEANUT® character was born when schoolboy Antonio Gentile submitted his sketch to win the PLANTERS® brand contest for a brand icon. A commercial artist later added a top hat, a monocle and a cane.

Half the fun of the game

1918

The PLANTERS® brand first advertised in the Saturday Evening Post, becoming the first roasted nut ever advertised

1920s

Planters The nickel Lunch

1923

The PLANTERS® brand introduced the “Nickel Lunch” campaign, selling one-ounce bags of freshly packaged peanuts for 5 cents.

Planters cocktail

1928

The PLANTERS® brand Cocktail Peanuts are introduced in an 8-ounce vacuum-sealed can, which later became the signature can.

1930s

The PLANTERS® brand stores opened in cities across the country, including a shop along Atlantic City’s boardwalk.

1937-1938

The first billboard featuring the MR. PEANUT® character appeared in Times Square.

1950s

Planters first TV commercials

The first TV commercials featuring the MR. PEANUT® character aired nationwide.

1960s

1961

Standard Brands, Inc. acquired the PLANTERS® brand Nut & Chocolate Company.

Planters Nut & Chocolate Company.

1962

The maker of the PLANTERS® brand introduced Dry Roasted Peanuts, oven roasted and seasoned with the PLANTERS® brand proprietary spice blend.

1961-1965

The MR. PEANUT® character was a star attraction at the New York World’s Fair.

1970s

Planters Peanut Pals

1978

The Peanut Pals organization, a nonprofit group dedicated to collecting memorabilia featuring the MR. PEANUT® character and the PLANTERS® brand, was founded.

1980s

1981

Standard Brands merged with Nabisco to form Nabisco Brands.

1985

The PLANTERS® brand introduced Honey Roasted Peanuts and Cashew Mix.

1990s

1997

The MR. PEANUT® character appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®.

1998

The PLANTERS® brand Trail Mix was introduced.

Planters Nut mobile debut

1999

The NUTMOBILE™ vehicle is reintroduced.

2000s

2000

The family of Nabisco brands was integrated into the Kraft Foods business worldwide.

Planters Good stuff

2004

The MR. PEANUT® character earned a spot on Madison Avenue’s Advertising Walk of Fame.

2004

The maker of the PLANTERS® brand introduced NUT-RITION® products, a new line of snack nuts specifically blended to meet important nutrition and wellness needs.

2006

The PLANTERS® brand celebrates 100 years of Fresh Taste.

2010s

Harness the power of peanuts

2013

The maker of the PLANTERS® brand launches the Power of the Peanut Campaign.

Nut mobile

2015

A new NUTMOBILE™ vehicle fleet hits the road.

Planters Dessert Inspired Mixes.

2015

The maker of the PLANTERS® brand launches Dessert-Inspired Mixes.

2015

Heinz purchases Kraft, forming The KraftHeinz Company.

2016

The MR. PEANUT® character celebrates his 100th birthday.

2020

The MR. PEANUT® character sacrificed himself to save his friends before being reborn as Baby Nut during the Big Game.

2021

The PLANTERS® brand joins the Hormel Foods family of brands.