Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls unveils commemorative tin for VE day

The Tommy Tin special edition is named after Uncle Joe’s employee Tommy Bennett, who worked in the factory producing Mint Balls before joining the war effort himself with the RAF. 

Two designs

It also honours the British troops who fought in the war and who were nicknamed Tommies. 

The commemorative tins come in two designs for customers to collect and 20p from each sale will go to armed forces charities across the UK. 

“Here at Uncle Joe’s we are very proud of the role our Mint Balls played in boosting morale during the Second World War​,” said John Winnard, Joint MD, Uncle Joe’s. 

“Our sweets were taken to the front line by members of the armed forces from across the country and provided a welcome taste of home in the trenches, on-board ships and for those patrolling the skies​. 

“The role of Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls was so important that Tommy Bennett, the firm’s only remaining sugar boiler, was granted a six-month leave of absence from the Royal Air Force so he could train his female replacement and ensure production continued​. 

“He was later to recall: ‘One week, I was boiling toffee and the very next, I was bombing the enemy in a Lancaster​.’ 

“We are delighted to be marking VE Day with this, our commemorative Tommy Tin, and donating 20p from each sale to armed forces charities across the UK​.” 

HRH Prince Charles

This year’s VE Day on May 8 will mark 75 years since the guns fell silent at the end of the war in Europe. 

To commemorate the anniversary there will be a three-day celebration across the UK from May 8-10. 

Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls are made by Wigan-based William Santus and Co, a privately-owned traditional sweet company that was established in 1898. The ownership has been passed down through the family generations. 

The Mint Balls are still manufactured using the same traditional methods as when Mrs Santus originally made the sweets in her kitchen in 1898. 

In April last year HRH Prince Charles​ visited Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls factory in Wigan to celebrate the centenary of The Toffee Works. 

He saw how the sweets were manufactured and met Joint Managing Directors Antony Winnard and John Winnard MBE, the great, great nephews of the company’s founder, William Santus. 

Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls contain no artificial additives or colours, they are GM free, gluten free and are suitable for the vegetarian/vegan market.