Suffolk Tutors

About Suffolk

Suffolk, Virginia might be most known for being the home of Mr. Peanut, the famous mascot of Planter’s Peanuts. Planters is an American snack food brand, that is now under the Kraft Heinz company. In 1916, there was a contest to design the Planter’s brand icon. Antonio Gentile who was still in grade school, submitted his design of Mr. Peanut. Planters took his design and made a few modifications to create the iconic Mr. Peanut.

The Planters snack food company tells a great story of the American dream. Amedeo Obici was an Italian immigrant who made his new home in Pennsylvania. He originally got a job as a bellhop and fruit stand vendor in Scranton; but later moved to Wilkes-Barre and opened his own fruit stand. While running that food stand, Obici made what was perhaps the most important investment of his life, when he bought a peanut roaster. Finding that people liked his peanuts, Obici got a horse and wagon and moved around the area proclaiming himself, “The Peanut Specialist.” Obici would later partner with Mario Peruzzi would was destined to be the founder of Planters. Peruzzi was no newcomer to the world of peanuts as he himself developed a process of blanching the peanuts to get rid of the hulls and skins. He started the Planters company with six employees, two roasters, and crude machinery. In 1908, the Planters Nut and Chocolate Company was officially incorporated.

In 1913, Obici moved to Suffolk, Virginia, which was also known as the peanut capital of the world. It was there that Planters opened a production plant and facility that allowed them to mass produce their tasty snacks. Over the last century, the Planters Nut and Chocolate Company was acquired by or merged with several larger brands and most recently, Planters is now a division of the Kraft Heinz company that officially merged in 2015.

Mr. Peanut has stayed with the Planters brand throughout its history. While Mr. Peanut will always officially be loyal to Planters, he has become a symbol of the entire peanut industry. Today, he is recognised not only as the artwork on Planters packaging, but also as a dapper and charismatic character in the Planters commercials. Mr. Peanut has his own collectables and memorabilia, a spot on Madison Avenue’s Walk of Fame, a NUTmobile, and even a stunt double. Peanut Butter Doug had his debut during the Planter’s Peanut Butter launch. Mr. Peanut has even made several appearances in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. As far as mascots are concerned, Mr. Peanut could tutor others on being an iconic success. Mr. Peanut will always have a special place in the hearts of peanut snackers and connoisseurs across the globe.

Suffolk tutors want all students to enjoy the delicious taste of success. If your student needs help in school, a Suffolk tutor could be exactly what you need. Every student deserves the chance to do well in school.