Unique Snacks pretzels to be available at military commissaries overseas

MUHLENBERG TOWNSHIP — U.S. military members deployed overseas will soon be able to get a taste of home — and a taste of Berks County.

Unique Snacks, the 102-year-old Muhlenberg Township-based snack manufacturer, will provide Unique Snacks’ Original Splits and Pretzel Shells to U.S. military commissaries in Europe and the Far East.

Starting in 2024, 11-ounce packages of Unique’s Original Splits will be available at all European commissaries at U.S. military installations as part of the company’s expanding relationship with the Defense Commissary Agency. In addition, 1-pound packages of Original Splits and Pretzels Shells will be available in club store sections at up to 55 U.S. commissaries throughout Europe and the Far East, according to a release.

“Our military service men and women sacrifice so much in the service to our country,” Justin Spannuth, chief operating officer at Unique Snacks, said in a statement. “We’re proud to bring them a sense of comfort by offering some of their favorite snacks from back home while they are deployed overseas.”

Since 2019, Unique Snacks has worked with the Defense Commissary Agency to offer its Original Splits, Pretzel Shells, Extra Dark Splits, Multi-Grain Splits, Extra Salt Splits and Sourdough Craft Beer Pretzel Rings at more than 90 U.S.-based military commissaries.

Unique Snacks also supports military families through its annual program with Folds of Honor, a national nonprofit that raises funds to create scholarships for the spouses and children of fallen or severely wounded military service members and first responders, according to the company.

Since 2018, the company has raised approximately $50,000 to support the nonprofit and its mission, by donating a percentage from each purchase of specially branded packages to Folds of Honor. In 2022, Unique Snacks sold more than 250,000 bags of Folds of Honor-branded Original Splits.

Unique Pretzel Bakery is a sixth-generation, family operated business. The company rebranded as Unique Snacks in 2020 — just before the company’s 100th anniversary in February 2021 — to pursue added growth.