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Percy Pig
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Percy Pig is a British brand of pig-shaped gummy raspberry, strawberry, cherry and grape-flavoured confectionery products made under licence in Germany by Katjes for Marks & Spencer which first appeared in stores in 1992. More than £10 million was grossed between June 2009 and 2010 in Percy Pig sales in Marks & Spencer's UK branches alone.[1] They contain 3.5% fruit juice,[2] and since May 2022 have been suitable for vegans.[3]
Percy Pig sweets are available in 100g, 170g and 400g.[citation needed]
History
[edit]
Percy Pig was created in 1992 and was sold in strawberry, blackcurrant and raspberry flavours.[1]
After a brief hiatus from the shelves in 1997, the brand returned, and in 2008 the sweets made British Vogue's 2008 hot list at number 11 on the publication's 40 hottest people and trends to watch over the coming months.[4]
The Percy Pig character appeared in M&S's 2021 Christmas advert voiced by Tom Holland in the character's first speaking appearance.[5]

In April 2022, a large fibreglass Percy Pig statue was installed on the roof of a newly-opened Marks and Spencer store in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, to remain there for a year.[6]
Ingredients
[edit]Marks & Spencer Percy Pig sweets originally contained real pig in the form of pork gelatin.[1] In 2011, a "Veggie Percy" range was launched, a vegetarian variety of Percy Pig sweets replacing the gelatin with beeswax and pea protein, with green ears to indicate they were vegetarian.[7]
In 2016, M&S began using a new gelatine-free recipe for some other varieties of Percy Pig sweets, and from May 2019 all Percy Pig sweets were 100 per cent gelatin-free,[8] instead using pectin.[9] This relaunch of the range also saw a new logo and packaging designs across the range.
In 2022, beeswax was removed from the recipe, making the product vegan.[10]
Variations
[edit]Following on from the success of the original Percy Pig sweets, new varieties, flavours and characters were introduced. Amongst the first were "Percy Pig & Pals", which besides Percy also contained a cow (cola flavour) and sheep (orange and strawberry flavour) and "Percy Piglets", which are smaller versions of the main sweets. A lemon and orange "Penny Pig" sweet was introduced in 1998, and retired a few years later.[1]
Besides the sweet range itself, Percy Pig has expanded to fruit juices, fizzy drinks, chocolates, popcorn, biscuits, cakes, muffins,[11] ice cream,[12] dessert sauces[13] and mince pies,[14] amongst others. In 2020, Marks & Spencer relaunched a Percy Pig advent calendar[15] after being discontinued in 2018 and 2019. Toys, books, socks, party equipment, bed linen and piggy banks are amongst the non-food items with the Percy Pig branding.
List of Percy Pig sweets
[edit]- Percy Pig
- Percy Pig Original Veggie (previously called "Veggie Percy")
- Reduced Sugar Percy Pig
- Percy Pig Piglets
- Phizzy Pig Tails
- Percy Pig and Pals
- Percy Pig Goes Globetrotting (previously known as "Globetrotting Percy")
- Percy Pig Fruity Chews
- Percy Pig Phizzy Chews
- Percy Pig Party Time
- Percy Pig Reversy Percy
Seasonal variations
[edit]- Percy Pig Gets Spooky (previously known as "Pumpkin Percy"; Halloween themed sweets)
- Merry Percymas! (Christmas themed sweets)
- Percy Pig & His Festive Friends
- Easter Party Percy Pig (previously known as "Percy Meets the Easter Bunny"; Easter themed sweets)
Discontinued variations
[edit]- Rosy Noses
- Percy's Pig Pen (Percy Pig sweets with household object-shaped sweets)
- Percy in a Twist (fizzy laces in a twist – vegetarian)
- Percy in the Pink (Percy Pig chocolate)
- Percy's Pig Sty
- Percy's Percynalities (Percy Pig sweets with differing faces)
- Percy's Family Mix (a mixture of Percy Pig, Penny Pig and the piglets)
- Percy's Parents
- Percy Pig Loves Penny (previously known as "Percy and Penny")
Other retailers
[edit]
Similar sweets are available from other retailers. Lidl has "Henry Hippo" sweets and Aldi has "Leo the Lion", both of which are also vegan.[2] Poundland, a discount retailer, released their own version in 2019 called "Dinky Dogs",[16][17] Sainsbury's produced "Eric the Elephant" sweets,[18] but they have since been discontinued.[19] In 2023, Swizzels agreed to redesign its "Pigs Mugs" sweets at the request of Marks & Spencer's lawyers, having sold them since 1996.[20]
Outside of the United Kingdom, similar products in other countries are the Dutch "Katja Biggetjes", the French "Petit Cochon" (launched 2007), the German "Fred Ferkel" and the Australian "Peggy Pig and Pals" introduced in Coles Supermarkets in 2009.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "High on the hog: How Percy Pig came to dominate the sweetie market, and win the nation's hearts". The Independent. London. 6 June 2010. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022.
- ^ a b Rhodri Harrison (24 April 2022). "I compared M&S Percy Pigs to supermarket own-brand varieties and I've got a new go-to". WalesOnline. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Marks & Spencer's iconic Percy Pigs sweets are now suitable for vegans". veganfoodandliving.com. 4 May 2022.
- ^ "Percy Piglets make Vogue's 'hot' list". Metro. 8 September 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ^ "From Spider-man to Percy Pig: Tom Holland voices M&S festive ad". 4 November 2021. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ Rutter, Harry (27 April 2022). "Giant Percy Pig installed at new M&S in Stevenage". The Comet. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ^ "Veggie Percy - Big up the new gelatine free sweet treat". Happytalkinghealth.posterous.com. Archived from the original on 27 February 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ^ "Marks & Spencer's Percy Pigs are now 100% vegetarian". The Independent. 1 May 2019. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
- ^ "Why everyone's talking about Percy Pigs". The Week UK. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ "Marks & Spencer's iconic Percy Pigs sweets are now suitable for vegans". 4 May 2022. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ Troy-Pryde, Jadie (11 November 2019). "Percy Pig muffins are coming to M&S and we are not worthy". Marie Claire. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ Troy-Pryde, Jadie (7 January 2020). "M&S launches Percy Pig ice cream and what a dream". Marie Claire. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ Troy-Pryde, Jadie (7 January 2020). "M&S has launched a Percy Pig dessert sauce in time for Pancake Day". Marie Claire. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ Troy-Pryde, Jadie (9 October 2020). "Percy Pig mince pies now exist and they're the Christmas snacks we all need". Marie Claire. Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ^ Troy-Pryde, Jadie (15 September 2020). "M&S launch Percy Pig advent calendars and we're totally sold". Marie Claire. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ Neil Shaw (11 March 2019). "Poundland release their own version of M&S Percy Pigs". Plymouth Live. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ Emily Chaplin (27 November 2022). "I compared Marks & Spencer's Percy Pigs to Aldi, Lidl and Poundland sweets - and was stunned by the results". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ Anna-Marie Julyan (13 February 2010). "Sainsbury's sweetens up its NPD for summer". The Grocer. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ Sainsbury's [@sainsburys] (6 October 2018). "Hey Mark, really sorry for the delay, Eric the Elephant sweets are discontinued. If you would like them back again you can click the link here: https://help.sainsburys.co.uk/help/itemrequest. Cal" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Butler, Sarah (8 June 2023). "Swizzels agrees to M&S demand to redesign its rival sweet to Percy Pig". The Guardian.
External links
[edit]Percy Pig
View on GrokipediaOverview
Description and Branding
Percy Pig is a pink, pig-shaped gummy sweet offered by the British retailer Marks & Spencer, characterized by its chewy, squidgy texture and a sweet taste profile dominated by strawberry flavors accented by apple notes from real fruit juice.[5][12] The sweets are made primarily from gelatin in their original formulation launched in 1992, but in 2019, Marks & Spencer replaced gelatin with pectin—a plant-based gelling agent derived from fruit—to render the entire range vegetarian-friendly.[12][13] This change maintained the signature firmness while broadening accessibility, and by 2022, the removal of beeswax from the coating made all Percy Pig variants fully vegan.[7] A key selling point is the inclusion of 3.5% real fruit juice from concentrates such as apple, mandarin, and elderberry, which contributes to the product's fruity undertones without artificial colors or flavors.[14] Standard packaging consists of 170g resealable bags, designed for convenience and portion control, with each bag containing approximately 40 individual sweets.[15] The branding of Percy Pig centers on an anthropomorphic pig mascot that embodies whimsy and playfulness, transforming a simple confection into a character-driven phenomenon. The mascot, created by illustrator Jane Massey, was introduced alongside the sweets in 1992 as a humble, pig-shaped figure on packaging labels.[5] Over the years, the packaging artwork has evolved to depict Percy in various lighthearted adventures—such as exploring or celebrating—featuring vibrant, colorful illustrations that appeal to children and evoke nostalgia for adults.[5][16] This character-based strategy employs child-friendly, whimsical marketing to position Percy Pig as more than a treat, fostering emotional connections through fun narratives and seasonal tie-ins without relying on aggressive advertising.[17] The design updates, from early "dated" iterations to sleeker, cuter modern versions, reflect Marks & Spencer's efforts to keep the branding fresh and culturally relevant.[16] As one of Marks & Spencer's bestselling products, Percy Pig's enduring appeal underscores the success of this approachable, mascot-led identity.[9]Cultural Impact and Popularity
Percy Pig has achieved remarkable commercial success, establishing itself as Marks & Spencer's top-selling confectionery line and a major driver of its food hall revenue. By 2014, over one billion Percy Pig sweets had been sold cumulatively, reflecting sustained demand since its 1992 launch. In more recent years, M&S reports selling over 400 million individual Percy Pig sweets annually, equivalent to more than 20 million bags, with approximately 38 bags purchased every minute. The brand generates around £50 million in annual revenue, underscoring its pivotal role in bolstering the retailer's food division, which saw sales rise to £1.9 billion during the 2021 Christmas period partly fueled by Percy Pig promotions.[18][4][19][20] As a cultural icon in the UK, Percy Pig has cultivated a devoted fanbase, manifesting in online communities and widespread media engagement. Social media appreciation groups thrive, with the official Percy Pig Facebook page amassing over 200,000 followers by 2021, where enthusiasts share content and tributes, including one fan's permanent leg tattoo of the character. The hashtag #PercyPig trends regularly on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, amplified by M&S's strategy of posting playful videos and collaborations, such as scented nail polishes and dog jackets, to maintain cultural relevance. Celebrity endorsements further elevate its profile; singer Katy Perry has publicly declared Percy Pigs a "tour essential," while actor Tom Holland voiced the character in M&S's 2021 Christmas advertisement, blending nostalgia with festive magic. Appearances in British media, from Vogue's 2008 "hot list" to humorous memes depicting Percy in everyday scenarios, cement its status as a nostalgic emblem of British confectionery, often compared to Haribo for its gummy appeal but distinguished by fierce UK-specific loyalty among consumers who view it as an "old friend."[21][22][17][23][24][21] The 2025 US launch at Target stores generated significant hype as a "British export" phenomenon, positioning Percy Pig as an accessible slice of UK culture for American audiences, with bags priced at $3.99 and marketed for their nostalgic, fruit-flavored charm. In the UK, Percy Pig plays a central role in holiday traditions, particularly Christmas, where limited-edition festive packs, advent calendars, and themed gifts like pajamas become staples in family celebrations. The 2019 reformulation to make all variants vegetarian sparked a notable consumer divide, with public figures like Piers Morgan decrying the change as inferior and "disgusting," while others praised the ethical shift; this debate highlighted the sweets' emotional hold on fans, dividing the nation more intensely than some political issues and reinforcing its place in British sweet tooth lore.[25][10][9][12][26][27]History
Creation and Launch
Percy Pig was developed in the early 1990s by Marks & Spencer's confectionery team as part of efforts to introduce innovative, child-friendly gummy sweets amid growing demand for themed confectionery products.[5] Product developer Julia Catton, working in the M&S food development department at the time, led the creation of the pig-shaped gummy, drawing on existing trends in fruit-flavored, animal-themed treats to differentiate it in the market.[5] The sweets were produced under license by the German company Katjes to ensure the desired chewy texture and flavor profile.[3] The concept aimed to combine premium quality with playful appeal, positioning it as a fun alternative to traditional sweets.[28] The development process faced significant technical hurdles, particularly in achieving consistent pig shapes during production. Initial prototypes often resulted in deformed figures, leading the team to nearly abandon the project, as Catton later recounted: "We thought, 'We can't launch something that looks so deformed'."[21] Despite these challenges, refinements allowed for viable manufacturing.[29] The focus remained on a simple, strawberry-inspired fruit taste to appeal to young consumers without artificial additives dominating the recipe.[21] Percy Pig debuted on July 23, 1992, across 50 Marks & Spencer stores in the UK, initially offered in berry and grape flavors as a straightforward, mascot-free treat targeted at children.[4][21] Early marketing emphasized its whimsical pig design and natural fruit notes, though customer reactions were mixed, with some expressing confusion over the unusual shape and theme.[21] Sales quickly exceeded expectations in the first year, prompting a nationwide rollout and establishing it as a core M&S confectionery item by 1993.[30]Key Milestones and Changes
Following its initial launch in 1992, Percy Pig underwent significant evolutions driven by consumer preferences for ethical and inclusive products. In May 2019, Marks & Spencer reformulated the entire Percy Pig range to remove animal-derived gelatin, replacing it with plant-based alternatives such as pectin, pea protein, and starch to make the sweets fully vegetarian.[12][31][32] This change was a direct response to growing customer demands for ethically sourced ingredients, avoiding animal exploitation in production.[33] Although the reformulation sparked debate among fans over subtle taste differences, it aligned with broader trends toward plant-based confectionery and helped the brand appeal to a wider audience.[12] Building on this momentum, Marks & Spencer achieved full vegan certification for Percy Pig in May 2022 by eliminating beeswax from the polishing process, ensuring no animal-derived components remained in the recipe.[7][34] The vegan shift capitalized on the rising popularity of plant-based diets, contributing to sustained demand and positioning Percy Pig as a leader in ethical sweets; for instance, the brand played a key role in Marks & Spencer's rise to the second most popular online food shop in the UK by 2023.[35] This adaptation not only boosted accessibility but also tied into sustainability efforts, such as the M&S Shwop program, where customers donating clothing to Oxfam receive free Percy Pig treats, promoting circular economy principles.[36] In 2025, Percy Pig marked a major expansion milestone with its entry into the US market through an exclusive partnership with Target, launching nationwide on March 30.[37][10] This debut introduced the vegan gummy candies to American consumers for the first time, available in stores and online at $3.99 per bag, reflecting Marks & Spencer's strategy to globalize the brand amid international demand.[38] In November 2025, the brand expanded further to Australia through an exclusive partnership with Coles supermarkets, beginning November 13.[39] However, the year also saw challenges, including temporary shortages exacerbated by an April cyber attack that disrupted supply chains, particularly affecting high-demand periods like holidays when festive Percy Pig variants typically surge in popularity.[40][41] Further innovations in 2025 included seasonal updates announced in September, such as the Percy Pig Petrifying Party Fruit Juice Gums, a Halloween edition featuring multi-colored gums in orange, green, and red with spooky designs like fangs, maintaining the vegan formula while refreshing the lineup for holiday appeal.[42] These changes underscored ongoing adaptations to consumer trends, ensuring Percy Pig's relevance through ethical reformulations and targeted expansions.[43]Product Composition
Ingredients
The standard Percy Pig gummy sweets, in their current vegan formulation as of 2025, consist of the following ingredients as per UK labeling standards: Glucose Syrup, Sugar, Maltodextrin, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Apple Juice from Concentrate (2.5%), Gelling Agent: Pectin, Acid: Citric Acid, Acidity Regulator: E332, Potato Protein, Natural Flavourings, Sunflower Oil, Fruit/Plant/Vegetable Concentrates (Black Carrot, Spirulina, Safflower, Apple, Blueberry), Glazing Agent: Carnauba Wax.[44] Glucose syrup, sugar, maltodextrin, and glucose-fructose syrup serve as the primary sweeteners and provide the base for the chewy texture, while pectin—a plant-derived gelling agent extracted from fruits—and potato protein bind the mixture and create the signature softness without compromising structure. The 2.5% apple juice contributes natural sweetness and subtle tartness, aligning with the product's emphasis on real fruit elements. Citric acid acts as an acidity regulator to balance flavors and preserve freshness, with E332 (potassium citrates) aiding in pH control. Natural colours from fruit/plant/vegetable concentrates provide the vibrant pink hue without synthetic additives. Natural flavourings enhance the strawberry-like profile, sunflower oil aids in processing, and the glazing agent carnauba wax (from palm leaves) provides a non-sticky finish to prevent adhesion. Historically, the formulation has evolved to address dietary and ethical concerns. Prior to 2019, Percy Pig sweets contained pork gelatin as the gelling agent, derived from animal collagen, which made them unsuitable for vegetarians. In 2019, Marks & Spencer transitioned to a plant-based alternative using pea protein and modified starches, rendering the sweets vegetarian-friendly while maintaining texture. This change followed earlier experiments, such as a gelatine-free version trialed in 2016 for select products. The 2022 update fully veganized the range by removing beeswax from the glazing agents, replacing it with plant-based alternatives like carnauba wax, in response to consumer demand for plant-only options. Further refinements have since been made to the recipe. The ingredients prioritize natural components, with all colours and flavours sourced from fruits, vegetables, and plants, avoiding artificial alternatives to appeal to health-conscious consumers. Allergen information indicates the product is free from nuts, gluten, and dairy in its recipe but is not suitable for those with milk allergies due to potential cross-contamination in shared manufacturing facilities; traces of milk may be present. Production involves heating the sugar and glucose syrup mixture with water to form a liquid base, incorporating pectin, protein, starches, acids, and fruit elements for homogeneity, then pouring into pig-shaped molds, cooling, and drying in controlled humidity to develop the chewy consistency before applying the glazing coat. No palm oil is used, eliminating related sustainability issues like RSPO certification needs.Nutritional Information
Percy Pig sweets offer a nutritional profile typical of gummy confectionery, with approximately 340 kcal per 100g serving, derived predominantly from carbohydrates.[44] The product is low in fat at 0.2g per 100g and protein at 0.4g per 100g, while containing minimal dietary fiber at 1.2g per 100g.[44] Carbohydrates make up 83.6g per 100g, of which sugars account for 52.1g, highlighting its high-sugar composition.[44] The inclusion of 2.5% apple juice from concentrate provides trace amounts of natural vitamins, such as vitamin C, though the overall vitamin content remains negligible due to the minimal fruit proportion and lack of fortification.[44]| Nutrient (per 100g) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Energy | 340 kcal (1445 kJ) |
| Fat | 0.2 g (saturates: <0.1 g) |
| Carbohydrates | 83.6 g (sugars: 52.1 g) |
| Fibre | 1.2 g |
| Protein | 0.4 g |
| Salt | 0.10 g |
