Pretzel company goes from small retail establishment to an Oprah mention

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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. To see our pretzels now recognized on the 2025 Oprah’s Favorite Things list felt like the ultimate ‘pinch me’ moment for our entire team,” he said. 

Launching the brand 

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,” said Given. 

With a background in baking, hospitality, food service, small business marketing and commercial photography, Given 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 10-20 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 a 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 a 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. 

Getting noticed 

Given said their authenticity set 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 Oprah’s Favorite Things list delivered what Given called “a good bump,” but careful planning ensured the team didn’t get overwhelmed. 

“We heard from Oprah’s team in early July, while they were considering thousands of products. 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,” Given said. 

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 November 15 launch,” said Given. 

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 he over. Then dunk in original or sweet hot honey mustard. So good.” 

What’s next 

The company has been growing 50 percent, 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,” said Given. 

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. This honor belongs to them and it belongs to our customers, who supported us every step of the way,” said Given. 

Stephanie Kalina-Metzger is a freelance writer