Tastykake
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tastykake is a brand of snack food manufactured by the Tasty Baking Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in 1914 by Philip J. Baur and Herbert T. Morris and originally selling its product only in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, the company now distributes its products in several states on the East Coast.
Varieties
The snack sized, prepackaged desserts are diverse in type and taste. Some of the varieties that have been available for at least the past fifty years include the ''KoffeeKake'' (commonly known as ''crumb cake''), ''Chocolate Cupcakes'' (chocolate cake with chocolate icing), "Tasty Pies" (available in Apple, Banana Cream, Blueberry, Cherry, Coconut Cream, French Apple, Lemon, Mince (seasonal), Peach, Pumpkin (seasonal), Strawberry (seasonal), Tasty-Klair (usually not sold during the summer months due to the chocolate coating on top), Pineapple (seasonal), Pineapple-Cheese (seasonal), Strawberry-Rhubarb (seasonal), and their newest additions: Tasty Grahams Vanilla Pudding, and Tasty Grahams Chocolate Pudding), ''Kandy Kakes'' (peanut butter on cake with chocolate icing) and ''Krimpets'' (butterscotch-iced or jelly-filled cakes). There are also Juniors (mini layer cakes with icing between 2 layers) in chocolate, coconut, pound kake, koffee kake, lemon, and orange flavors (note: Wawa Food Markets claim the lemon and orange Juniors are exclusive to their store.)
Product History
1917 - Chocolate Juniors
1927 - Butterscotch Krumpets
1930s - Tasty Pies, Apple first. Peach, Lemon, Blueberry followed.
1930s - Tandy Takes (now called Kandy Kakes), Peanut Butter first
1985 - Donuts
Comfort food
Along with cheesesteaks and soft pretzels, Tastykakes are popular among all of the various ethnic groups found throughout Philadelphia. Tastykakes have become a ''comfort food'' for many Philadelphians; those who have moved to a state where Tastykakes are not available consider a gift of Tastykakes something to be shared with close family and friends, and possibly to be hoarded and saved for a special occasion. For those people who really need to have their Tastykakes, they can now buy them directly from the company website.
Production Facilities
Tasty Baking owns and operates its major production facility in the Nicetown section of Philadelphia, located near the Reading Railroad's (now SEPTA) Wayne Junction station and maintenance facilities. A second, smaller facility is located just north of Oxford, Pennsylvania in Chester County. Recently, Tasty Baking has reported that it may close down its Philadelphia facility and either rebuild within the city, or move its operations either to the Oxford facility or elsewhere. This plan has caused controversy, especially with the company selling parcels of land to a group of investors lead by real estate developer Donald Trump and former Philadelphia 76ers president Pat Croce, for a possible slot machine parlor to be built there (Pennsylvania legalized slot machine gambiling in 2004). Grassroots efforts, including local members of Philadelphia's City Council and Mayor John F. Street, are involved with keeping Tasty Baking in the city of Philadelphia itself, even if the company decides to build a new modern facility either along the Delaware Waterfront or in Northeast Philadelphia.
Trivia
In the late 1960s, there was a boycott against Tastykake by many African-Americans, led by a Philadelphia minister, Leon Howard Sullivan. At that time Tastykake would not hire African-Americans except in menial positions, and Sullivan said that if his people could not work at the company there was no reason why they should buy its products. Tastykake soon changed its position and the boycott was ended. Tastykake has been a long time sponsor of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball broadcasts. Harry Kalas always makes sure to announce that a box of fresh Tastykakes has been delivered to the booth during an inning break. Marvin Harrison of the Indianapolis Colts has five boxes of Tastykakes shipped from Philadelphia to Indianapolis weekly. Author Janet Evanovich features Tastykakes in her Stephanie Plum mystery novels, which are set in Trenton,New Jersey.
