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The Untold Truth About Crunch Bar
The Crunch Bar has been a beloved chocolate treat for more than eight decades, delighting taste buds with its sweet, creamy and deliciously crunchy texture. Manufactured and distributed by Nestlé since 1938, this iconic chocolate bar has become a staple in the United States and around the world. Let’s delve into the untold truth of the Crunch Bar, exploring its origins, unique characteristics, spin-offs, controversies, and more.
Who invented the Crunch Bar?
The origins of the Crunch Bar can be traced back to Maurice Michaud, an employee at Nestlé’s main manufacturing plant in upstate New York in the 1930s. According to his great-niece, Yvonne Mace, Michaud experimented with chocolate by adding Rice Krispies to create a delicious combination. He would bring these chocolate and Rice Krispies creations home, and his family fell in love with them. Eventually, Michaud shared his recipe with his co-workers, and the demand for this chocolate and Rice Krispies treat grew rapidly.
While Michaud’s role in the creation of the Crunch Bar is a fascinating family story, it is important to note that Nestlé had a collaborative culture that encouraged innovation and new ideas. Regardless of its exact origins, a key factor that led to the use of rice in the Crunch Bar was its affordability compared to other chocolate ingredients such as nuts or caramel. Rice was a low-cost option that allowed Nestlé to expand its offering while keeping production costs low.
How the Crunch Bar gets its crunch
The Crunch Bar owes its signature crunch to the inclusion of puffed rice. When Nestlé began producing Crunch Bars at its New York State plant in the late 1930s, the company sourced its puffed, crunchy rice from the Van Brode Milling Company of Massachusetts. But as the popularity of the Crunch Bar grew, Van Brode struggled to meet Nestlé’s increasing demand for puffed rice. At times, Nestlé even resorted to using large quantities of Kellogg’s Rice Krispies as a substitute.
In the 1960s, Nestlé embarked on a project to puff its own rice. However, perfecting the process proved challenging. Nestlé experimented with a two-step process of cooking the rice with steam and then drying it to achieve the desired crunchy texture. It took numerous trials and adjustments, but by 1981, Nestlé’s Crisped Rice Division had developed a process capable of producing 3,000 pounds of perfectly puffed rice per hour to meet the high demand for Crunch Bars.
There’s little difference between Crunch and Krackel
Nestlé’s Crunch Bar and Hershey’s Krackel bear a striking resemblance. In 1938, Nestlé introduced the Crunch Bar, a milk chocolate bar filled with crunchy pieces of puffed rice. Just one year later, Hershey introduced Krackel, a milk chocolate and puffed rice bar that closely resembled the Crunch Bar. The name “Krackel” was a creative play on the word “crunch” and added a touch of onomatopoeia. Initially, Krackel included peanuts, but they were later removed from the recipe in 1941.
While both bars enjoyed popularity, Crunch ultimately emerged as the enduring favorite. In the 1980s, Hershey discontinued full-size Krackel bars, relegating them to one of the varieties offered in their miniature bags.
Crunch Bar Spinoffs: Hits and misses
The Crunch Bar is not only a successful chocolate treat, but also a brand that has spawned several spin-offs. Some of these ventures have been well received, while others have not. In 1994, Nestlé introduced Buncha Crunch, which consisted of bite-sized, crunchy clusters of rice coated in chocolate. Initially available only in movie theaters, Buncha Crunch was later expanded to grocery stores in 2012. Another variation, Crunch White, made with puffed rice and white chocolate, has remained on the market for decades, albeit with limited availability. Not all spinoffs have enjoyed long-term success, however. Crunch Crisp, a bar combining chocolate, puffed rice, and wafers similar to Kit-Kat, was discontinued in the 2010s, as was the coffee-infused Crunch Mocha.
The Crunch bar controversy
Nestlé has faced controversy and legal challenges regarding its cocoa sourcing and labor practices. In 2001, Nestlé signed the Harkin-Engel Protocol, an agreement aimed at eradicating child labor and slavery on African cocoa farms. However, in 2005, Nestlé was sued, along with other major food companies, for allegedly doing business with exploitative farms. The lawsuit included testimony from individuals who claimed to have been forced to work on cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast, Ghana and other regions. Nestlé has taken steps to address these concerns and improve transparency in its supply chain, but the issue of child labor in the cocoa industry remains a complex and ongoing challenge.
The enduring popularity of the Crunch Bar
Despite the controversies and challenges, the Crunch Bar has maintained its popularity and has become a nostalgic favorite for many. Its unique combination of creamy chocolate and crunchy rice continues to captivate chocolate lovers of all ages. The affordability, accessibility and widespread availability of Crunch Bars have contributed to their enduring appeal.
Over the years, Nestlé has also used a variety of marketing strategies to promote the Crunch Bar. From memorable advertising campaigns to partnerships with popular franchises such as Pokémon and Star Wars, Nestlé has successfully kept Crunch Bar relevant and appealing to new generations of consumers.
Bottom line
The Crunch Bar holds a special place in the hearts of chocolate lovers around the world. With its origins rooted in experimentation and ingenuity, this iconic chocolate treat has become a symbol of the perfect balance between smooth chocolate and satisfying crunch. Despite the challenges and controversies it has faced, the Crunch Bar remains a beloved classic, reminding us of the joy and pleasure that a simple chocolate bar can bring.
FAQS
Answer: The Crunch Bar was invented by Maurice Michaud, an employee at Nestlé’s main manufacturing plant in upstate New York in the 1930s.
What gives the Crunch Bar its crunch?
Answer: The Crunch Bar gets its signature crunch from the inclusion of puffed rice, which is cooked, puffed and then covered in chocolate.
Are there variations of the Crunch Bar?
Answer: Yes, Nestlé has introduced variations of the Crunch Bar, including Buncha Crunch, which consists of bite-sized crunchy clusters of rice coated in chocolate, and Crunch White, which contains puffed rice and white chocolate.
What is the connection between Crunch Bar and Hershey’s Candy Canes?
Answer: Both the Crunch Bar and Hershey’s Krackel are milk chocolate bars with crunchy puffed rice. While they have similarities, the Crunch Bar has remained more popular while the full-size Krackel bars have been discontinued.
Has Nestlé faced any controversy related to the Crunch Bar?
Answer: Nestlé has faced controversy over its cocoa sourcing and labor practices. In 2005, Nestlé, along with other major food companies, was sued for allegedly doing business with exploitative cocoa farms, highlighting the issue of child labor in the industry.
Why is the Crunch Bar so popular?
Answer: The popularity of the Crunch Bar can be attributed to its unique combination of creamy chocolate and satisfying crunch, its affordability, its accessibility and Nestlé’s effective marketing strategies over the years.