New York
Act Daily News
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Ira “Bob” Born, referred to as the “Father of Peeps,” died on Sunday. He was 98.
Just Born Quality Confections, the Pennsylvania-based firm that makes varied candies, together with the chick-shaped marshmallows, confirmed Born’s demise in a press release. The firm stated that Born shall be “remembered as a tireless and passionate advocate for the candy industry and a wonderful supporter of our community.”
Born was a part of the second era within the household business that his father, Sam Born, based in 1923. His son, Ross, retired as CEO in 2021.
“We extend our deepest sympathy to his son, Ross, and the entire family,” stated David Shaffer, board chair and co-CEO of Just Born.
Bob joined the corporate in 1945 after graduating from Lehigh University with a level in engineering physics, and repair within the US Navy. Just Born stated within the assertion that he “devoted his life to Just Born and the science and process of candy making,” including that he was an “inventor whose amazing intellect allowed him to see solutions to almost any situation.”
Peeps have been round because the early Nineteen Fifties when Just Born purchased a smaller sweet firm that had been making the marshmallow sweet by hand. Born used his engineering expertise to “mechanize the marshmallow-forming process,” lowering the time it took to make a Peeps package deal from 27 hours to simply 6 minutes,” in line with the corporate’s web site. That helped him earn the nickname “Father of Peeps.”
Originally created for Easter, Peeps makes themed sweet for different holidays, too, together with Valentine’s Day and Halloween. However, Easter accounts for about 75% of Peeps gross sales every year.
Born additionally created new equipment to spice up the manufacturing pace of a few of its different merchandise, together with Hot Tamales and Mike and Ike candies.
He was born in New York City in 1924. His father, Sam, a Russian immigrant, based Just Born a yr prior. The household relocated to Bethlehem just a few years later, the place the corporate nonetheless operates.
Ross Born advised the Lehigh Valley News stated his father was a “real mensch,” including that he was a “kind person, he was generous with his talents, sharing his abilities.”
“The candy business was kind of catchy … it was interesting to him,” Ross Born advised the newspaper. “He enjoyed the science, the technology, the processing, he was very much into the equipment.”
Source: www.cnn.com