As we all know, Pick n Mix when we encounter it. Although the stands aren’t found in as many stores as they once were however, there’s quite some history behind this method of choosing or selling sugary treats.
In actual fact, we’re going all the way to 1886.
America 1886…
A American businessman by the name of Frank Woolworth (yep, Mr Woolworths himself) was the owner of a range of five and ten cent shops. One day, he thought of an innovative idea to sell sweets, but with a different approach. He chose to sell sweets based on the weight that he placed in front of his customers.
It’s not an original idea. In the 1900’s, poisoning due to sweets sold at a low price was frequent (no food hygiene standards in the past!). This is the reason why people were more inclined to buy confectionery from department shops because they could be assured that the store’s management had inspected the ingredients of sweets and how they were produced.
However, that didn’t stop Frank. He conducted research and studied. In search of confectioners who would work directly with him instead of via the wholesaler. He also understood the importance of hygiene, which customers believed in. To combat this, his stores and counters were adorned with signs that stated they were made in a clean manner at his manufacturing facilities.
…And the experiment worked!
Customers were thrilled with the new method to purchase their sweets. Woolworths was the first stop for loose sweets according to weight. The store remained at the top of the list for a long time. This was just the beginning.
…And cheaper!
The price of one quarter of sweets at the time was 25 cents. Woolworths would like to cut this price to 5 cents per item for its stores. This way it would bring enjoying the pleasure in sweets (or candy, as Americans refer to it) and bring them into the cost range of the typical worker.
Everyone thought he was insane! This includes his own team…
He didn’t let that stop him. …. And we’re so grateful that it did not. What is the world we would be living in without the pleasures of Pick n Mix sweet mixups.
Woolworths went all-out…
In defiance of any criticisms he received and had a good amount in his arsenal, he carried through his plan. He found a company who was stunned by the massive quantity he was willing to buy at once and pay the full amount upfront.
Frank began to design his own sweet counters. He designed them to be much like those counters that are found in Macey’s department stores featuring plenty of mahogany wood sparkling display frames, as well as display cases with tiers of sweets.
Everything was done at the highest level of secrecy. The counters and display cases were covered up until an hour prior to the big opening.
…And the experiment worked!
Oh, how it worked! Massively! Within a few hours of opening, the stores were crowded with customers and they were completely amazed at the variety of options available and also the incredible low-cost prices that nearly everyone could manage to. The plant that produced the sweets needed to introduce a the night shift to workers. Soon, it was operating with full production 24 hours every day!
Pick and Mix sweets was made…
Rivals of Woolworths critics, critics and “expert” criticisms were stunned. They looked up and were astonished of his expanding business and the wealth. In the end, rivals followed the same method of selling in a loose manner of selling sweets.
The same process was followed almost unchanged throughout North America and Europe, particularly Britain throughout the following 75 years.
1909 British Mix n Mix…
Okay, that’s the story that one person’s idea of what the future holds for sweets. Let’s take a look at Britain and UK sweets market in more depth.
Now we will jump to a warm and sunny year in 1909. It’s only 23 years ago, after his “crazy and ridiculous idea” of looking for stores in the UK. The suppliers in Britain were not quite prepared for the magnitude of order he put in. At first, Woolworths was importing stock in large quantities from America to stock the store in Church Street, Liverpool.
The next spring, the British manufacturers made their debut. The counters of the stores were filled with a huge selection of popular items such as chocolate, boiled sweets , and Everton Mints. In the past one quarter pound of Pick n Mix (113g) was worth 2 old cents. If you were to use today’s currency, it would be about 6.55p per kilogram. (Sorry we’re trying to keep prices low, but it’s just not feasible now! ).
… We Brits enjoyed it!
The customers were amazed by the wide variety of sweets that were on display. The number of confections available to fit into bags to pay for the price was awe-inspiring. At the time of 1930 Woolworths became the most popular sweets shop across Britain & Ireland. They were the leading shop in the UK market, in fact, until the time Woolworths was listed on the High Street.
Over time, they have added many more sweets into the selection as well as expanding the variety of Chocolate bars and Ice Creams.
Pick and Mix was the name given to it…
Customers had been giving the sweet service the nickname for a long time. It wasn’t until the middle of 1950’s that Woolworths recognized this. Prior to that, they named the products “Weigh-out sweets”.
They adopted the name for their sweets, and nearly created a brand of its own. Pick n Mix was now an official thing! Oh , yes!
…it continued to grow and grow ….
The range of sweets expanded. The number of stores increased. In addition, the number of stores within the Woolworth empire increased (Massively). By 1930, Woolworth’s stores had massive counters, however, even these had to be replenished several times per every day.
Pre-packaged chocolate bars and sweets like those from Cadbury’s, enjoyed a lot of popularity, but not in the same way of the sweets available in loose packages.
By 1939, Woolworth’s had become untouchable. Woolworth’s had successfully established an unbeatable grip on the confectionary market across the UK.
A year later… the shops were closed as Britain was in War and coupons for rations had been issued. Factories were working hard to support the war effort, and thousands of brave men were scattered across Europe protecting our freedoms.
However, the British triumphed. And so did Woolworths!
They continued trading as the best they could. Even during war, we Brits always needed sweets. Government Rations were utilized to distribute sweets quite. The rations that were unofficial were also employed in several shops. The elderly, especially pensioners, would give extra coupons for rations to store staff and ask they save them in the store for “little children”. It was so nice! They offered their tokens to ensure that kids of all ages would not be disqualified from the candy counters.
The 1950’s: The Beginning of a New Era…
Okay, that’s the history lesson done. We now move on to post-war Britain. The 1950’s. An era of optimism and new beginnings.
The majority of Pick n Mix sweets and sweets generally, which are in high demand and readily identifiable today, originate from this thrilling time.
Stores and brands changed, and the customer’s tastes and willingness to try the “new” was growing.
And the world of retail changed. Inspired by the stores of America and the United States, the personal Service way of selling was going to disappear.
Instead, the customers would get a an unlimited selection from Pick n Mix sweets from “self-service” stands. Oh my! What a scene this must have been first time.
Large brands also became commonplace with the introduction of new models and lower prices. People of the working class could enjoy treats which were once an expensive product. There are many brands that have seen Cadburys, Mars, M&M’s, Rowntrees and Nestle become the most popular items.
It worked!
This self-serve format of Pick n Mix stands stayed as a part of the High Street for decades to the future.
Then, jump into 2022.
Let’s bring back the great time of Pick n Mix from Woolies. Without the need for stores. No customers have to leave the home!
This is where pick and mix sweets online with home delivery comes in.
Customers can make their individual Custom Pick n Mix sweets mix-up, and then get it delivered right to their doorstep.
Anywhere in the UK within a few days using Royal Mail.
You can even get it next day through Royal Mail 24 if you’ve been craving a sweet treat to ease your mind.