National Pretzel Month: Pennsylvania’s favorite snack goes gourmet with OMG!’s bold flavors
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Plymouth Meeting, PA): Founded in Pennsylvania in 2014 by mother-daughter duo Lynn and Stephanie Kriebel, OMG! Pretzels is celebrating National Pretzel Month this October. “My mom made the garlic pretzels for us as kids, so we had them around a lot,” says Stephanie Kriebel, Co-Owner of OMG! Pretzels. “Now, we are sharing them with the world!”
OMG! Pretzels is an up-and-coming boutique brand that accounts for more than $550 million worth of pretzels that are sold in the United States annually. Did you know the average American consumes up to two pounds of pretzels in a year and Philadelphians consume up to 12 pounds? Based on the popularity of the snack brand and local support, in its second year, OMG! Pretzels had doubled its sales. By year three, production moved out of Lynn’s house and into a commercial kitchen.
In 2018, OMG! Pretzels joined the Specialty Food Association, was featured in Montco Happening Magazine, and surpassed $100,000 in sales for the first time. And the growth kept coming! In 2019, OMG! Pretzels became available on the West Coast, we won “Best Specialty Food” in the 2019 Montco Happening contest and launched our new and improved packaging.
In 2020, OMG!’s line up of gourmet, crunchy sourdough nuggets expanded from five flavors to eight, including Garlic, Sweet & Salty, Chesapeake Spice, Cheddar Jalapeno, Sweet & Spicy, Lemon Pepper, Salty Butterscotch, and Sweet Chili. Now, OMG! Pretzels are available at more than 300 retailers nationwide and online at Amazon.com and www.omgpretzels.com. We are part of the Faire Wholesale Marketplace and are looking to expand into Canada and Europe. “I find it unbelievable and amazing,” says Lynn Kriebel, Co-Owner and Chief Baker. “Something that started so small is growing so quickly, and we get to share our delicious pretzels with others to enjoy for special occasions like we do.”
October is a great time to talk about pretzels, especially in Pennsylvania because pretzels have strong ties to the state. German immigrants brought the pretzel – already popular in Europe – into the United States in the 1700s and most pretzel bakeries popped up in Pennsylvania during this time. Even today, about 80% of pretzels made in America are made in Pennsylvania – including OMG! Pretzels.
OMG! Pretzels are terrific on their own because of their wide variety of flavors and fantastic snackability. They are also great for small holiday gatherings to pair with beer or wine or as a complement to cheese plates. OMG! Pretzels also make the perfect crunchy topping for holiday casseroles or on salads and soups. The sweet pretzels – Sweet & Salty, Salty Butterscotch, or Sweet & Spicy – are also a great addition to a morning yogurt parfait or holiday trifle dessert.
To request samples or an interview with Lynn and Stephanie, contact Stephanie at stephanie@omgpretzels.com.
