This Central PA pretzel maker sold 20K+ on QVC. Which local soft pretzel is your favorite?

York Daily Record
by Angel Albring
August 30, 2022

Philip Given and Jordan Pfautz, co-owners of The Pretzel Co. in York, recently branched out and scored big.

Given and Pfautz brought their pretzels to QVC on Aug. 24 and, according to a Facebook post from Pfautz, "sold 20,000 pretzels on QVC in 5 minutes."

The Pretzel Co. is offering it 6 ounce signature hand twisted soft pretzels on QVC's website. They come in a box of 12 priced at $39.98 with free shipping.

Pfautz said he was in "total disbelief" over the success.

According to The Pretzel Co.'s website, "80% of all pretzels produced in the U.S. are made within an hour’s drive" of their bakery, which is located in downtown York. That may explain why there are so many soft pretzel companies in this region, and why Central Pennsylvania residents have strong opinions about which one has the best doughy delights. Which one of these is your favorite?

The Pretzel Co.: 39 W. Market St., York

According to The Pretzel Co.'s website, "nearly every soft pretzel that you’ve seen being sold on the internet has been touched, prodded, or formed by a machine at every step of the manufacturing process. But not ours."

This pretzel company is up front about the ingredients they use in all of their pretzels: flour, water, salt, brown sugar, non-GMO canola oil and yeast.

Their "pretzels are made with love by real bakers in historic Downtown York," and they "bake and ship from the same bakery" they have operated since 2014.

The Pretzel Co. offers large sticks, nuggets, regular twisted pretzels, giant twisted pretzels and pretzel brats. You can visit their website to order any of these pretzel styles in a box.

Smittie's Soft Pretzels: 6065 Carlisle Road, Dover

According to their website, Smittie's started in 1934 by a man named Lester Smith who worked for a bread bakery in York County. After the bakery closed its doors, the company gave Lester their building and equipment for past-due wages.

Smith started by making hard pretzels, but that was short-lived because he soon went to fight in World War II. When he returned, his building had been condemned, so he moved his pretzel business to Dover. There, he incorporated German techniques that he learned during the war to develop a soft pretzel.

Today, Smittie's is owned by a third generation Smith, and the soft pretzel store Lester and his family built is where Smittie's knotted treats are made and sold.

They sell regular soft pretzels, soft pretzel sticks (untwisted), twisted pretzel sticks, soft pretzel roll, soft pretzel nuggets, cinnamon & sugar soft pretzel twists and other specialty items.

Epex Soft Pretzels: 984 Loucks Road, York

Epex Soft Pretzels Co. was founded by Gene Smith in 1993 with the help of Smith's father, Glenn Smith, according to the company's website. Glenn Smith was the 2nd generation owner of Smittie's.

"My father taught me that work comes first and how to make the best soft pretzel I could make. I worked many years under my father's teaching until he felt I was ready to operate and own my own shop," Smith said on the site.

Epex offers soft pretzels and soft sticks, hard pretzels, pretzel rolls and mini rolls, pretzel nuggets, breakfast sandwiches, pretzel sandwiches, dessert pretzels, soups and more. They also offer party platters and wholesale order options.

You can buy in-person or online.

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Auntie Anne's

Worldwide, Auntie Anne's is probably the most well-known soft pretzel shop. The restaurant chain is headquartered in Lancaster County, and there are more than 1,700 locations in 48 states and over 25 countries.

According to the company's website, Auntie Anne's was founded by Anne F. Beiler and her husband, Jonas, in 1988. Auntie Anne's serves various flavors and styles of pretzels, dips and beverages. They also offer Pretzels & More Homemade Baking Mix.

Philly Pretzel Factory: 2058 S. Queen St., York

Philly Pretzel Factory has over 170 locations in over a dozen states, with around 30 locations in the Greater Philadelphia area alone, according to Visit Philadelphia, but they have only one location in York.

According to the company's website, founder Dan DiZio "started selling soft pretzels in his neighborhood at age 11, becoming a child entrepreneur with a sales team of kids from all around the town." After graduating from college, DiZio partnered with his friend Len Lehman to create the first Philly Pretzel Factory location "in a storefront instead of in an industrial space."

They grew rapidly from there. Today, they have an extensive soft pretzel menu, featuring pretzel twists, mini-pretzels, min-cheeseburgers in a pretzel, buckets of pretzel bites and a large variety of dipping sauces.

You can order online, pick up in-store, or go through a drive-through location.

Dutch Country Hand-Rolled Soft Pretzels: 26 W. Main St., Mount Joy

Dutch Country Pretzels is one of the newest companies on the list. According to their website, the owners created and mastered their recipe 15 years ago and then spent many years selling pretzels out of a food trailer. They opened their first location in the summer of 2019.

Currently, they offer regular soft pretzels, cinnamon sugar, garlic, sour cream & onion, pretzel bites (in all flavors) and pizza pretzels. They also offer Jim Mack's ice cream.

Shuey's Pretzels: 702 E. Lehman St., Lebanon

Shuey's is a family-owned business that has been providing hard and soft pretzels since 1927, but Saturdays are the only days customers can get soft pretzels. Currently, they serve three varieties.

Pretzel Pizza Cafe & Creamery: 711 W. Elm Ave., Hanover

Pretzel Pizza Cafe in Hanover opened in 2019 and has the most extensive menu on this list. Serving up pretzel pizzas, pretzel sandwiches, pretzel dogs, pretzel wraps and 36 different ice cream flavors and a variety of sundaes. This pretzel restaurant was founded by Brad Eline and his wife, Susan, to share Eline's own pretzel recipe that he developed 30 years ago.

Foltz's Pretzels

Foltz's Pretzels can be found in 8 locations in Central Pa., and they have a mobile pretzel truck. In York, you can find a Foltz's in Central and Eastern Markets, and at 5 Brooks Robinson Way.

According to the company's website, they began in 2004, "when Dennis Foltz started the first stand at Reading Fairgrounds Farmers Market." Foltz's is known for their sweet and salty flavor.