The History of Skippy Peanut Butter

While Skippy founder Joseph Rosefield did not invent peanut butter or the partial hydrogenation process itself, he was responsible for inventing the hydrogenated form of smooth peanut butter. He filed a patent for his creation in 1921 and soon began producing his new style of peanut butter. Not only was the texture far smoother, but the product was far more shelf-stable and longer-lasting than previously available peanut butters. He named the new product Skippy, possibly taking the moniker from the eponymous comic strip created by Percy Crosby in the 1920s. Skippy was an immediate hit and by 1942, hydrogenated peanut butter had begun to outsell natural varieties. It’s also worth noting that during the 1930s, Rosefield invented crunchy peanut butter and Skippy became the first brand to sell it. Skippy was also the first peanut butter company to debut wide-mouth jars, according to Smithsonian magazine. During World War II, tins of Skippy peanut butter were shipped to soldiers overseas since they were a shelf-stable and long-lasting source of protein; it’s thought that the famous peanut butter and jelly sandwich was created by soldiers serving in the war. Peanut butter was also consumed on the Homefront as rationing of meat and other goods took hold. Peanut butter’s place in the American diet was solidified during this time and only continued to grow as the peanut butter and jelly sandwich gained widespread popularity in the postwar period. (According to Smithsonian magazine, American kids now consume an average of 1,500 PB&Js by the time they graduate high school!) Even as rival brands debuted, Skippy remained one of the top peanut butter brands. In the 1980s, Annette Funicello starred in a series of commercials for Skippy and in the 2010s, the brand capitalized on a reference in the hit song “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars. Still, Skippy has had some controversies, including lawsuits from Skippy comic creator Percy Crosby’s daughter over the brand's name and two recalls for metal shavings in the product. Still, Skippy is one of the top brands of peanut butter in the United States today and remains a beloved staple in many households.