About PEZ
PEZ is an iconic candy brand invented in Vienna, Austria in 1927 by Eduard Haas III. The name PEZ is an abbreviation of the German word PfeffErminZ (peppermint), as the original product was a compressed peppermint sweet marketed as an alternative to smoking under the slogan "Smoking prohibited, PEZing allowed!" The revolutionary PEZ dispenser was created in 1949 by Viennese engineer Oskar Uxa, originally designed to resemble an elegant golden lighter for high society. The dispensers served a practical hygiene purpose - allowing one piece of candy to be dispensed at a time without touching others. In 1955, character heads were added to appeal to children, with Santa Claus, Popeye, Mickey Mouse, and Donald Duck among the first characters. Today, PEZ dispensers are sold in over 80 countries with more than 550 unique dispenser heads and thousands of variations, making them highly collectible. The most valuable dispensers can fetch over $13,000. PEZ conventions are held annually worldwide, with the oldest being Pez-a-Mania in Cleveland since 1991. Headquartered in Traun, Austria, with production in Hungary and the USA, PEZ continues to produce their beloved Fruit Mix sweets alongside the iconic collectible dispensers that have transcended their candy origins to become pop culture icons.

