Philadelphia Soft Pretzels

Jeanne Sidorick owns a pretzel company called Philadelphia Soft Pretzels.

On November 25, 2003, we interviewed Jeanne Sidorick by phone. We sat in one of our school's conference rooms and used a speaker phone. Students took turns asking questions they had prepared earlier, while teaching staff recorded Jeanne's answers.

Jeanne started the Philadelphia Soft Pretzel company about 35 years ago in 1968 because her family enjoyed eating soft pretzels. Her company makes only 1 type of pretzel and they don't have any dipping sauces. They use mustard on their pretzels or they eat them plain.

The pretzels are all hand twisted. They are made from spring flour, yeast, water, vegetable and soy shortening, and Kosher salt. But Jeanne says the most important ingredient is "TLC”" (Tender Loving Care)! Jeanne says, "We always make them (pretzels) with love, that's what makes it taste so good! And we don't use any preservatives."

Jeanne employs about 20-25 people in her factory. They have all been with her a long time. The factory opens at 4:00AM and they are finished around 12:30PM.

When asked if she and her workers eat pretzels, Jeanne replied, "Yes, we all eat them. We eat them at work, and then the workers take home a free bag of pretzels every day." Jeanne's favorite way to eat soft pretzels is with mustard and some salt.

When asked whom they sell the pretzels to, Jeanne answered, "Schools are our best customers!" They sell to schools, hospitals, and (in the summer) water ice trucks. On school days they make about 20,000 pretzels per day and on the weekends about 8,000 to 10,000 per day. They deliver to the schools around the Philadelphia area and Montgomery County.

They also will ship anywhere using overnight express delivery so the pretzels are fresh. Overnight delivery is important because the pretzels have no preservatives in them.

Jeanne said she always likes to try other pretzels because this way, "I can check the quality of our pretzels." She said that when she went to Europe she tried German pretzels. They tasted more like a roll, and there were round.

Jeanne explained that some of the pretzels people buy in the shopping malls are made with sugar and cinnamon. She said these are not authentic Philadelphia Soft Pretzels.

Jeanne advises people not to buy pretzels from street vendors because you don't know how fresh they are, who made them, and how 'hygienic' the conditions are.

They currently do not have a web site address, but Jeanne says they would like to have one someday.

If you would like to order their pretzels, you can call the factory directly to place your order (215-324-4315).