Pick'n'Mix

• Victorian Origins (1840s-1900)

The pick and mix tradition began in Victorian confectionery shops, where sweets were displayed in glass jars on mahogany counters. Customers pointed to their selections, and shopkeepers weighed them on brass scales. Popular sweets included:

• Barley sugar (medicinal origins)
• Sherbet lemons (Victorian invention)
• Humbugs (traditional boiled sweet)

• The Golden Age (1920s-1960s)

The interwar period saw the rise of the “sweet shop” as a British institution. Key developments:

• 1920s: Pear drops and aniseed balls become national favourites
• 1930s: Jelly Babies (originally “Peace Babies”) launched by Bassett’s
• 1950s: Wine gums, fruit pastilles dominate
• 1960s: Foam sweets (shrimps, bananas) introduced

• The Woolworths Era (1970s-2000s)

Woolworths popularised self-service pick and mix with their famous “pic’n’mix” counters. At its peak, Woolworths sold 2,000 tonnes of pick and mix annually. The chain’s collapse in 2008 created a gap in the market filled by specialists like Mr Simms.

• The Modern Revival (2004-present)

Mr Simms was founded in 2004, part of a wave of independent confectioners reviving the traditional sweet shop experience. Key trends:

• Nostalgia marketing: Adults buying childhood favourites
• Premiumisation: Higher-quality ingredients, artisan methods
• Dietary accommodation: Vegetarian, halal, sugar-free options

Experience retail: In-store sampling, knowledgeable staff