Andy and Philip Given, brothers and co-founders of The Pretzel Company
Making it to “Oprah’s Favorite Things” list is no small feat.
Products must first be discovered by Oprah Winfrey’s internal team, then evaluated for quality, originality, usefulness and emotional resonance before being passed along to the celebrity herself, who makes the final decisions.
Philip Given, co-founder of The Pretzel Company, was thrilled when he heard the news.
“When we started out, all we hoped for was to share a truly authentic, bakery-fresh product with our neighbors,” he said. “To have our pretzels recognized on the 2025 ‘Oprah’s Favorite Things’ list felt like the ultimate ‘pinch me’ moment for our entire team.”
Major Pivot
The Pretzel Company began in downtown York as a small bakery.
“Our goal was to create a great retail store downtown and sell wholesale to bars and restaurants,” Given said.
With a background in baking, hospitality, food service, small business marketing and commercial photography, he was able to handle much of the heavy lifting himself, at least in the beginning.
“We started out with seven employees and now we have 30,” he said.
As the company grew, so did its output. Shipments increased from 10 to 20 boxes a day, to as many as 11 pallets daily. Outside marketing and PR agencies now assist with brand awareness and national exposure.
The company was a logical fit for the area, which is often recognized as the center of the snack food ecosystem. As word spread, sales climbed—until COVID forced a major pivot.
“It was 2021 when we converted the retail space to a shipping area,” Given said.
A strategic partnership with White Rose Ventures—a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage, tech-enabled, high-growth companies—accelerated that growth. The company soon outgrew its original space and relocated to an 11,000-square-foot warehouse in Emigsville.
“The space was easily converted into a bakery, is on a bus route, and it’s just an eight-minute drive from our other location, making it convenient for our staff,” Given said.
Good Bump
Given said their authenticity sets them apart.
“While another brand may be covered in butter, ours is lye-dipped, like an authentic Bavarian pretzel—it’s akin to a really good bread,” Given said.
The recipe itself is simple: flour, water, yeast, baking soda, oil and salt—with dehydrated vinegar to preserve shelf life.
The company has steadily built visibility, appearing on QVC several times a month and even on “Sherri,” a nationally syndicated American daytime talk show hosted by actress, comedian and television personality Sherri Shepherd.
Making it to the “Oprah’s Favorite Things” list delivered what Given called “a good bump,” but careful planning ensured that the team didn’t get overwhelmed.
“We heard from Oprah’s team in early July, while they were considering thousands of products,” he said. “At that point, we knew we were on their radar as a small, family-owned business making niche-specialty products that you can’t find just anywhere.”
The company received official confirmation in October.
“It then became a sprint to make sure we had enough ingredients, packaging and that our website was ready for the Nov. 15 launch,” Given said.
On OprahDaily, Oprah described the pretzels as:
“‘Knot’ to Be Missed. An excellent hostess gift, these hand-twisted Bavarian soft pretzels come from Pennsylvania. You just brush them with butter, sprinkle the salt and warm in the oven. Then dunk in original or sweet hot honey mustard. So good.”
Explore York views the mention as reinforcing the region’s reputation as the “Snack Food Capital of the World.”
“Pretzels and York County go hand in hand, and The Pretzel Company is one shining example of this tradition,” said Melissa Beaverson, vice president of marketing and communications for Explore York, the county’s tourist promotion agency. “It’s a point of pride to share these delicious, York-made treats with friends and family across the country.”
The company has been growing 50%, year over year, according to Given. Still, there’s more to come.
“We’re expanding our portfolio to include chocolate-stuffed and pepperoni-stuffed pretzels,” Given said.
Ultimately, the recognition belongs to those behind the scenes.
“Being selected gave a wave of encouragement to every single person on our team, from our bakers who start the dough at 5 a.m. to our packaging team sealing the boxes,” Given said. “This honor belongs to them and it belongs to our customers, who supported us every step of the way.”
For more information on The Pretzel Company, visit www.thepretzelcompany.com.
If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
