We all know the satisfying “pop” of a Pringles can and the unique, saddle-shaped crisps nestled inside. But have you ever wondered about the man behind this iconic packaging? His name was Fredric Baur, and his story doesn’t end with the design of the can; it includes a rather unusual final wish. Baur, the inventor of the Pringles can, requested that part of his ashes be placed in a Pringles can. This request was honored by his family after his death, making his final resting place as iconic as the invention itself.
Fredric Baur wasn’t just someone who came up with a packaging idea; he was an organic chemist and food storage technician who specialized in research and development and quality control for Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble. It was during his time there, in the 1960s, that P&G developed a potato chip made from dehydrated flour, shaped like a saddle, which was unlike any other potato chip. It was also during this period that Baur designed the now-famous tubular container, filing for a patent for both the container and the method of packaging the curved, stacked chips in 1966. The patent was granted in 1970. The packaging was a key selling point for Pringles. As Steve Reiss of Packaging Digest noted, “You can have the best product in the world, but if the package doesn’t speak to people they may never try it”. Baur’s design was novel, creating a resealable tube that protected the chips from damage and breakage, and, according to Reiss, made eating potato chips a bit more fun.
Baur retired from P&G in the early 1980s. It was around this time that he first voiced his unusual burial request. According to his son, the family initially chuckled at the idea. However, Baur was serious about his desire to be buried in a Pringles can, because he was so proud of his invention.
Baur passed away on May 4, 2008, at the age of 89, due to Alzheimer’s disease. His children honored his unique request. Part of his cremated remains were placed in an Original flavor Pringles container, which was then buried in his grave in suburban Springfield Township. The rest of his remains were placed in an urn and buried alongside the can. Some of his ashes were placed in another urn and given to a grandchild.
The story of Fredric Baur’s final wish has become a quirky part of snack food history. It’s a testament to his dedication and pride in his work, and it ensures that his legacy will forever be linked to the iconic Pringles can that he created. So, the next time you pop open a can of Pringles, take a moment to remember Fredric Baur, the man who was not only the inventor of the can but is also now a part of it.
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