PAYDAY
THE BIRTH OF PAYDAY
Payday was introduced in 1932 by the Hollywood Candy Company created by Frank Martoccio. The peanut-covered caramel and nougat bar was different from other candy bars released at the time because it did not have any chocolate in it. Payday got its name from being first produced on an actual payday for employees at the Hollywood Candy Company. Like Snickers, Payday was heavily marketed as a meal replacement during the Great Depression era because of its peanut content.
THE EVOLUTION OF PAYDAY
In 1988, PayDay’s parent company, Hollywood Brands, was acquired by the Leaf Candy Company and later became part of Hershey's in 1996 through its purchase of Leaf North America. Afterward, Hershey shifted production from a Leaf Candy Company facility in Centralia, Illinois, to a larger plant in Robinson, Illinois, improving efficiency and enabling larger-scale manufacturing. Hershey has since then created multiple different versions of the Payday bar including a honey roasted version and a chocolate version. Payday remains one of the most popular non-chocolate candy bars in the United States.
