Pick 'n' mix
Encyclopedia
Pick 'n' mix is a common method used to sell various small items. It is most often used to sell confectionery
, whereby small sweets are displayed in tubs or bins. Customers are able to select any combination of items, and using a small shovel or tongs, put them into a container provided, hence the term 'pick and mix'.
Most pick 'n' mix displays are sold by weight, although some are also sold based on a set container size, such as at a salad bar.
In the UK, Woolworths'
high street stores were known for selling a range of pick 'n' mix sweets, usually from two separate ranges, with one side being provided by Candyking
, and the other made up by Woolworths' themselves. Towards the end of the company's life, they had only one big selection aimed at both adults and children.
The final bag of Woolworths' Pick 'n' Mix was sold on eBay for £14,500.
Since the demise of Woolworths'
, a number of different retailers have started providing pick 'n' mix to fill the niche.
WH Smith, Wilkinson and supermarket chains Morrisons
and Tesco
have started to provide ranges from Candyking
.
Dobbies and BHS have their pick 'n' mix provided by the Treat Company, while Alworths
has created its own range.
Confectionery
Confectionery is the set of food items that are rich in sugar, any one or type of which is called a confection. Modern usage may include substances rich in artificial sweeteners as well...
, whereby small sweets are displayed in tubs or bins. Customers are able to select any combination of items, and using a small shovel or tongs, put them into a container provided, hence the term 'pick and mix'.
Most pick 'n' mix displays are sold by weight, although some are also sold based on a set container size, such as at a salad bar.
In the UK, Woolworths'
Woolworths Group
Woolworths Group plc was a listed British company that owned the high-street retail chain, Woolworths, as well as other brands such as the entertainment distributor Entertainment UK and book and resource distributor Bertram Books...
high street stores were known for selling a range of pick 'n' mix sweets, usually from two separate ranges, with one side being provided by Candyking
Candyking
Candyking is a Swedish company that markets pick and mix confectionery in Finland, Norway, Sweden, the UK and Ireland.- History :...
, and the other made up by Woolworths' themselves. Towards the end of the company's life, they had only one big selection aimed at both adults and children.
The final bag of Woolworths' Pick 'n' Mix was sold on eBay for £14,500.
Since the demise of Woolworths'
Woolworths Group
Woolworths Group plc was a listed British company that owned the high-street retail chain, Woolworths, as well as other brands such as the entertainment distributor Entertainment UK and book and resource distributor Bertram Books...
, a number of different retailers have started providing pick 'n' mix to fill the niche.
WH Smith, Wilkinson and supermarket chains Morrisons
Morrisons
Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc is the fourth largest chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom, headquartered in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The company is usually referred to and is branded as Morrisons formerly Morrison's, and it is part of the FTSE 100 Index of companies...
and Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
have started to provide ranges from Candyking
Candyking
Candyking is a Swedish company that markets pick and mix confectionery in Finland, Norway, Sweden, the UK and Ireland.- History :...
.
Dobbies and BHS have their pick 'n' mix provided by the Treat Company, while Alworths
Alworths
Alworths was a chain of British high-street retail stores created out of the remains of some of the former stores of Woolworths Plc. When the company fell into administration 15 branches were acquired by Poundstretcher.- History :...
has created its own range.