Peeps factory closes for coronavirus: How it will affect Easter baskets in 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has shut down theme parks, festivals, movie theaters and more, but not everything: The Easter tradition of eating Marshmallow Peeps, despite the company temporarily suspending production, will go on as planned.
On Wednesday, Just Born Quality Confections, the company behind the Peeps chicks and bunnies that appear in Easter baskets everywhere, temporarily shut down its factories in Philadelphia and Bethlehem, Pa. However, people will still be able to get their sugar fix on the holiday, which falls on April 12 this year.
“All of our Peeps have been produced and shipped to retailers for this upcoming Easter season,” the company says in a statement to Yahoo Lifestyle.
The outlook is not as rosy for several other types of the brand’s confections, at least until it reopens. The company says it currently plans to keep its facilities closed through at least April 7.
“We do have inventory of Mike and Ike, Hot Tamales and Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews for the short term but may experience out of stocks on several individual items,” the statement reads. “We will continue to work with our retail partners to ensure that the fans of our brands can continue to enjoy them during this challenging time.”
Just Born explains that associates will continue to be paid and the company will use the time to “further clean and sanitize our production facilities, offices and corporate headquarters.”
The iconic candy, created in 1953, has been the top selling non-chocolate candy for 20 years running, according to its maker. It’s become such a part of the season that an amusing Peeps diorama contest has been a thing in Washington, D.C., for years, with Washington City Paper hosting it in again 2020.
Feel like getting crafty during the quarantine? There’s still time to enter.
For the latest coronavirus news and updates, follow along at https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus. According to experts, people over 60 and those who are immunocompromised continue to be the most at risk. If you have questions, please reference the CDC and WHO’s resource guides.
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