Peppy (polar bear)

Peppy (from peppermint)^[1] is the polar bear mascot and icon of Fox's Glacier Mints, a brand of boiled mint manufactured by Fox's Confectionery in the United Kingdom. Peppy was introduced to confectionary packaging in 1922.^[2] At around the same time, Fox's commissioned a taxidermist to shoot and stuff a real polar bear, which was put out on display at such public events as football matches and carnivals to advertise the Glacier Mints.^[3][4][5] The exhibition was taken all over the country, and eventually incorporated as many as four other stuffed polar bears.^[3][5] In the 1960s, after the advent of televised advertising and after Rowntrees acquired the company, the exhibition was deemed politically incorrect and was removed from public circulation.^[4][5] Television commercials which featured Peppy were later produced.

In 2003, the original Peppy – measuring 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) high and 2 m (6 ft 7 in) long,^[5] and with an indeterminate gender^[6] – was donated to the New Walk Museum in Leicester, the city in which Fox's Confectionery is based.^[4] The stuffed bear had been lost in a company factory for approximately 20 years.^[3] A brand manager said of the donation, "We found it in the back when we were clearing out and decided to donate it to a museum - the best place for it. We didn't want it in the reception because it's so gory we feared it could scare the customers when they visited."^[5] After the acquisition, the museum commenced a restoration process which took six years to complete.^[5] Peppy was displayed in a public exhibition at the museum from 24 January to 5 April 2009.^[3][7]

See also

• List of fictional bears

Notes