How it all began....

William Santus was born in Wigan, in the North of England, in 1873 and was the son of a coal miner. He married Ellen Seddon in 1898 and became a stall holder, in Wigan Market Hall, selling fruit and vegetables. Ellen made sweets in her kitchen, and perfected the mint ball, which she sold on her husband's fruit stall. It was from these humble beginnings that Uncle Joe's Mint Balls were born and the stall is still preserved in the Wigan Pier Heritage Centre. Demand grew, especially with local miners, as they gave relief from coal dust, and were used as a substitute for tobacco during the long hours spent underground.

In 1919 the present factory was commissioned, and two years later was completed. Here, the famous mint balls are still produced, in the same way, over open gas fires, to a recipe still mixed in secret every day, and known only to two people. At a time when sweets are mass produced, and contain artificial additives, it is refreshing to find a traditional product, that is "pure and good", reminding us of how sweets used to taste.

Mrs. Santus could not have envisaged, when she boiled toffee in her back kitchen, how popular Uncle Joe's Mint Balls were to become.

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More than just a sweet.....

Over the years Uncle Joe's Mint Balls have become part of Lancashire folk-lore.   The very name brings a smile, and conjures up all sorts of nostalgic memories, especially for people  brought up with  them - recollections of frosty mornings travelling to work, or winter afternoons watching the local football team - (Brrr! so unthinkable, without the warming taste of an "Uncle Joe's" to keep out the chill - and help cheer the home team on.)  to just simple enjoyment of a lovely old fashioned sweet.

Their appeal covers all generations and all classes, long before they were individually wrapped, generations of Wigan school children have enjoyed mint balls - taken out of  pockets - dusted off - and popped into mouths with great relish,- and satisfaction.

But now people everywhere are discovering  their delights, and requests for information on local outlets, and details of the Postal Service, are received by the factory every week.

Uncle Joe's! - just  boiled sweets? - we don't think so, - no!-  they're so much more than that.

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