Peppy (polar bear)
Encyclopedia
Peppy is the polar bear
mascot and icon of Fox's Glacier Mints
, a brand of boiled mint manufactured by Fox's Confectionery
in the United Kingdom
. Peppy was introduced to confectionary packaging in 1922. At around the same time, Fox's commissioned a taxidermist to shoot and stuff a real polar bear, which was put out on display at such public events as football matches and carnivals to advertise the Glacier Mints. The exhibition was taken all over the country, and eventually incorporated as many as four other stuffed polar bears. In the 1960s, after the advent of televised advertising and after Rowntrees acquired the company, the exhibition was deemed politically incorrect
and was removed from public circulation. Television commercials which featured Peppy were later produced.
In 2003, the original Peppy – measuring 1.5 m (4.9 ft) high and 2 m (6.6 ft) long, and with an indeterminate gender – was donated to the New Walk Museum
in Leicester
, the city in which Fox's Confectionery is based. The stuffed bear had been lost in a company factory for approximately 20 years. A brand manager said of the donation, "We found it in the back when we were clearing out and decided to donate it to a museum - the best place for it. We didn't want it in the reception because it's so gory we feared it could scare the customers when they visited." After the acquisition, the museum commenced a restoration process which took six years to complete. Peppy was displayed in a public exhibition at the museum from 24 January to 5 April 2009.
Polar Bear
The polar bear is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak Bear, which is approximately the same size...
mascot and icon of Fox's Glacier Mints
Fox's Glacier Mints
Fox's Glacier Mints are the leading, branded boiled mint in the UK. They have been manufactured by Fox's Confectionery in Leicester since 1918. The mints were developed by Eric Fox, one of the original founders of Fox's Confectionery. Since 1922 the mints have been sold with the Peppy the polar...
, a brand of boiled mint manufactured by Fox's Confectionery
Fox's Confectionery
Fox's Confectionery is a British confectionery company based in Braunstone, Leicester.-History:The company was set up Walter Richard Fox as a wholesale grocery and confectionery business in 1880. It started in a Victorian warehouse in Leicester...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Peppy was introduced to confectionary packaging in 1922. At around the same time, Fox's commissioned a taxidermist to shoot and stuff a real polar bear, which was put out on display at such public events as football matches and carnivals to advertise the Glacier Mints. The exhibition was taken all over the country, and eventually incorporated as many as four other stuffed polar bears. In the 1960s, after the advent of televised advertising and after Rowntrees acquired the company, the exhibition was deemed politically incorrect
Politically incorrect
The phrase "politically incorrect" may refer to:* Someone or something which does not meet a standard of political correctness* Politically Incorrect, a late-night U.S. political talk show* Politically Incorrect, a German political blog...
and was removed from public circulation. Television commercials which featured Peppy were later produced.
In 2003, the original Peppy – measuring 1.5 m (4.9 ft) high and 2 m (6.6 ft) long, and with an indeterminate gender – was donated to the New Walk Museum
New Walk Museum
The New Walk Museum and Art Gallery is a museum on New Walk in Leicester, England, not far from the city centre. Two dinosaur skeletons are permanently installed in the museum — a cetiosaur found in Rutland , and a plesiosaur from Barrow upon Soar.Other permanent exhibits include an Egyptian area,...
in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, the city in which Fox's Confectionery is based. The stuffed bear had been lost in a company factory for approximately 20 years. A brand manager said of the donation, "We found it in the back when we were clearing out and decided to donate it to a museum - the best place for it. We didn't want it in the reception because it's so gory we feared it could scare the customers when they visited." After the acquisition, the museum commenced a restoration process which took six years to complete. Peppy was displayed in a public exhibition at the museum from 24 January to 5 April 2009.