Payday

Payday is an American confectionery brand whose signature product combines a dense coating of salted peanuts with a sweet, nougat-like caramel center. The candy bar was introduced in 1932 by the Hollywood Candy Company and became distinctive in a period when candy bars were often marketed not only as treats but also as inexpensive, filling substitutes for snacks or small meals. Its name is commonly associated with the circumstance that the first production run took place on a company payday. The brand was developed under the leadership of Frank Martoccio, founder of the F.A. Martoccio Macaroni Company and the executive behind Hollywood Candy Company. Hollywood also made the Zero bar, originally introduced as the Double Zero. In 1938, Hollywood moved its operations to Centralia, Illinois, where the Payday business continued for decades. The Martoccio family sold Hollywood Brands to Consolidated Foods in 1967; Consolidated Foods later became associated with Sara Lee. A fire destroyed the Centralia plant in 1980. Production of Payday nevertheless continued with assistance from L.S. Heath and Sons while a replacement facility was arranged. Hollywood Brands was acquired by the Leaf Candy Company in 1988. In 1996, Payday became part of The Hershey Company through Hershey's acquisition of Leaf North America. Under Hershey ownership, the classic non-chocolate Payday remained the core product and continued to be sold as a peanut-and-caramel bar. The product is manufactured in the United States and is associated with peanut and milk allergens; the classic version is also described as gluten-free and OU-D certified in the referenced product information. Payday has periodically been extended beyond its core format. Historical variations included a glazed honey limited edition in 2003 and Payday Pro, a higher-protein energy-bar interpretation introduced in 2005. The brand has also had several chocolate-covered versions. A chocolate-covered Payday existed during the 1980s under Sara Lee ownership, while Hershey introduced limited chocolate variants in 2006 and Payday Chocolatey Avalanche in 2007. In August 2020, Hershey introduced Chocolatey Payday as a permanent addition to the portfolio. This version retains the salted-peanut and caramel combination but adds a coating made with compound chocolate paste. The classic Payday remains the brand's defining offering, with standard and king-size formats available in the United States. The product's identity depends on contrast: crunchy, salty peanuts surround a soft, sweet center, while the classic bar notably lacks a conventional chocolate coating. The 2020 Chocolatey Payday broadened the range for consumers seeking a more traditional chocolate-candy profile without abandoning the original peanut-forward construction. Payday placed third in the Los Angeles Times's 2019 Candy Bar Power Rankings, reflecting its continuing recognition within the American candy-bar category.

Payday was introduced in 1932 by the Hollywood Candy Company, a confectionery business led by Frank Martoccio. The original bar consisted of salted peanuts wrapped around a sweet, nougat-like caramel center. Its launch took place during the Great Depression, when candy manufacturers frequently emphasized the filling qualities of products. Payday was consequently marketed as a substantial snack or meal-replacement-style food, with its large quantity of peanuts providing a more substantial eating experience than many simpler candy bars. The brand name is associated with the fact that the first batch was reportedly produced on payday at the company. Hollywood Candy Company was connected to the F.A. Martoccio Macaroni Company and also produced the Zero bar, which had originally been called the Double Zero. In 1938, Hollywood moved to Centralia, Illinois. The Centralia operation became important to the brand's manufacturing history, although the facility was destroyed by fire in 1980. Payday production continued with assistance from L.S. Heath and Sons while a new facility could be built, allowing the brand to survive a significant interruption to its manufacturing base. In 1967, the Martoccio family sold Hollywood Brands to Consolidated Foods. Consolidated Foods subsequently became associated with Sara Lee, placing Payday within a larger packaged-foods organization. During the 1980s, the brand had a chocolate-covered version, demonstrating that the company had experimented with a format beyond the classic chocolate-free bar. Hollywood Brands was acquired by the Leaf Candy Company in 1988. Payday then became part of The Hershey Company in 1996 through Hershey's acquisition of Leaf North America. Hershey maintained the classic Payday as the central product. The standard bar continued to feature peanuts and a caramel-like center, while king-size packaging provided a larger format for convenience-store and retail distribution. Product experimentation continued through limited and adjacent formats. A glazed honey version appeared in 2003, and Payday Pro, described as a high-protein energy bar, was introduced in 2005. Hershey also issued a limited chocolate Payday in 2006 and Payday Chocolatey Avalanche in 2007; the latter was later discontinued. In August 2020, Chocolatey Payday was launched as a permanent product rather than a short-term variation. It uses the familiar salted-peanut and caramel structure but adds a layer of compound chocolate paste containing cocoa and chocolate. This extension gave the brand a more conventional chocolate-candy option while preserving its established peanut-centered identity. The classic and Chocolatey versions are sold in standard and king-size formats in the United States. Product information identifies peanuts and milk-related ingredients as allergens, and the classic bar is described as manufactured in the United States, gluten-free and OU-D certified. Payday's enduring differentiation is its emphasis on salted peanuts and its unusual omission of a traditional chocolate coating in the original product. This profile gives it a pronounced salty-sweet taste and a crunchy exterior that separates it from chocolate-dominant candy bars. The permanent Chocolatey Payday line broadens the brand's appeal but does not replace the classic bar. In 2019, Payday received third place in the Los Angeles Times Candy Bar Power Rankings, indicating continued visibility in the American candy category.

• 2020

  Chocolatey Payday becomes a permanent line extension

  [1]Payday (confection)en.wikipedia.org

  Hershey adds Chocolatey Payday permanently to the brand portfolio.

• 2019

  Payday receives third place in a candy-bar ranking

  [1]Payday (confection)en.wikipedia.org

  The Los Angeles Times places Payday third in its Candy Bar Power Rankings.

• 2005

  Payday Pro launches

  [1]Payday (confection)en.wikipedia.org

  Payday Pro is introduced as a high-protein energy-bar variation.

• 2003

  Glazed honey limited edition appears

  [1]Payday (confection)en.wikipedia.org

  A glazed honey variation is introduced as a limited Payday product.

• 1996

  Payday joins The Hershey Company portfolio

  [1]Payday (confection)en.wikipedia.org

  Hershey acquires Leaf North America, resulting in Hershey ownership of Payday.

• 1988

  Hollywood Brands is acquired by Leaf Candy Company

  [1]Payday (confection)en.wikipedia.org

  Leaf Candy Company acquires Hollywood Brands, bringing Payday into Leaf's confectionery portfolio.

• 1980

  Centralia plant fire disrupts production

  [1]Payday (confection)en.wikipedia.org

  A fire destroys the Centralia plant. Payday production continues with assistance from L.S. Heath and Sons while replacement capacity is arranged.

• 1967

  Hollywood Brands is sold to Consolidated Foods

  [1]Payday (confection)en.wikipedia.org

  The Martoccio family sells Hollywood Brands to Consolidated Foods, later associated with Sara Lee.

• 1938

  Hollywood moves to Centralia, Illinois

  [1]Payday (confection)en.wikipedia.org

  Hollywood Candy Company relocates to Centralia, Illinois, which becomes an important site in Payday's manufacturing history.

• 1932

  Payday is introduced

  [1]Payday (confection)en.wikipedia.org

  Hollywood Candy Company launches the original Payday bar, combining salted peanuts with a sweet caramel-like center.

A peanut-forward candy bar positioned around a salty-sweet combination, substantial texture, and a distinctive chocolate-free classic format, supplemented by chocolate-coated extensions.

• Candy bar · 1932

  Payday

  The original Payday bar, first introduced in 1932, consists of salted peanuts surrounding a sweet, nougat-like caramel center. Its defining feature is the absence of a conventional chocolate coating, making the product strongly peanut-forward in taste and texture. The bar is sold in standard and king-size formats in the United States. Product information identifies peanuts and milk-related ingredients as allergens and describes the bar as manufactured in the United States, gluten-free and OU-D certified.

• Chocolate-coated candy bar · 2020

  Chocolatey Payday

  Chocolatey Payday retains the brand's salted-peanut and caramel center but covers the bar with a compound chocolate paste containing cocoa and chocolate. Hershey introduced it as a permanent addition to the Payday portfolio in August 2020. It is offered in standard and king-size formats and provides a more familiar chocolate-candy profile than the original bar while preserving the brand's characteristic peanut texture.

• High-protein energy bar · 2005

  Payday Pro

  Payday Pro was a higher-protein energy-bar interpretation of the Payday concept introduced in 2005. It extended the brand beyond its traditional candy-bar format and was part of the company's experimentation with more functional snack positioning. The product is not identified as a current core offering in the referenced material.

• Chocolate-coated candy bar · 2007

  Payday Chocolatey Avalanche

  Payday Chocolatey Avalanche was a chocolate-oriented Payday variation introduced by Hershey in 2007. It followed earlier experiments with chocolate-covered versions of the bar but was later discontinued. The product illustrates the brand's recurring effort to combine its peanut-and-caramel base with chocolate.

• 2020

  Hershey makes Chocolatey Payday a permanent productProduct launch

  Background

  Payday had previously appeared in several chocolate-covered or chocolate-oriented variations, including limited products introduced during the 2000s.

  Action taken

  Hershey launched Chocolatey Payday as a permanent line extension, adding a compound-chocolate coating to the established salted-peanut and caramel construction.

  Aftermath

  The brand gained a permanent chocolate-coated option while retaining the original chocolate-free Payday as its signature product.

  Source

• 1996

  Hershey acquires Leaf North AmericaM&A

  Background

  Payday had become part of the Leaf Candy Company after the 1988 acquisition of Hollywood Brands. Hershey's acquisition of Leaf North America brought the brand into Hershey's confectionery portfolio.

  Action taken

  The Hershey Company acquired Leaf North America and assumed ownership of Payday.

  Aftermath

  Payday continued as a Hershey brand, with the classic peanut-and-caramel bar remaining the portfolio's central offering.

  Source

1. 1Payday (confection)en.wikipedia.org