1. Duz and Oxydol Glassware
Shopping used to come with unexpected bonuses that made everyday products feel special. Brands slipped glasses, mugs, and even dishware into packages, turning routine purchases into small treasures for the home. From the 1950s through the 1970s, families discovered that their detergent boxes sometimes held more than just soap. Duz and Oxydol slipped full-sized drinking glasses, juice tumblers, or even bowls right inside the packaging. Shoppers quickly learned to feel the “mystery lump” through the cardboard, making laundry day surprisingly rewarding. These giveaways weren’t cheap novelties, they were sturdy kitchen staples that often lasted decades. Many households unknowingly built entire sets this way, blending the practical need for detergent with the excitement of unboxing free homeware. Today, collectors value these pieces not just for nostalgia but also for their durability and unique designs, which turned a simple purchase into a memorable moment.
2. Welch’s Jelly Glasses
What started as a way to sell more jelly became one of the most recognizable household collections of the 1950s through the 1970s. Welch’s packaged its jams and jellies in reusable glass jars that doubled as cartoon-themed drinking glasses once emptied. Featuring characters like the Flintstones, Looney Tunes, and later even superheroes, the glasses were colorful, sturdy, and dishwasher-safe. Parents loved the practicality, while kids begged to finish the jelly so they could add a new favorite character to the cupboard. Before long, families unintentionally built entire sets without ever stepping into a specialty store. Today, surviving collections are highly sought after by both nostalgia fans and vintage kitchenware collectors.
3. Ovaltine Mugs
Carnation Ovaltine didn’t just offer a sweet malted drink, it gave customers something extra to sip it from. During the 1960s and 1970s, large tins sometimes came packed with sturdy ceramic mugs, often stamped with logos or decorated with popular cartoon tie-ins. These mugs weren’t cheaply made throwaways; they were durable enough for daily use, which meant they often outlasted the tins they came in. Kids would cling to them as favorites for hot cocoa or milk, while adults enjoyed the practical bonus of never needing to shop for extra mugs. The cross-promotion was clever: every warm drink poured into an Ovaltine mug reminded you where it came from. For many families, these mugs became as much a kitchen staple as the drink itself.
4. Kraft Peanut Butter Mugs
In the 1970s, Kraft turned peanut butter into a double delight by packing it in reusable mugs. Depending on the product, you’d find glass or plastic containers molded into fun shapes like bears, clowns, or other playful designs. Once the peanut butter was gone, kids got a new cup to claim as their own, while parents appreciated not having to buy extra dishware. These mugs blurred the line between food packaging and permanent kitchenware, and they became especially popular with children who insisted on using “their” Kraft mug at every meal. They also reflected the midcentury trend of adding real value to everyday purchases, making a simple grocery buy feel like a small family event.
5. Quaker Oats China
Few things seemed less likely to hide fine dishware than a tin of oats, yet that’s exactly what Quaker did in the 1950s and 1960s. Large round containers sometimes came with a sealed surprise inside: a piece of china such as a cup, saucer, or small plate. Families would collect these piece by piece with each purchase, gradually assembling full sets over time. The designs were simple but elegant, and the excitement of discovering which piece came next turned routine grocery shopping into a treasure hunt. Many households ended up with entire tea sets this way, often used proudly for special occasions. The promotion was practical, charming, and remarkably effective at keeping customers loyal to Quaker.
6. Gas Station Glassware
During the 1960s and 1970s, filling up your tank could earn you more than just miles on the road. Many gas stations offered drinking glasses as giveaways with a full tank, ranging from plain branded tumblers with Mobil or Shell logos to colorful licensed sets featuring NFL teams, Disney characters, or Coca-Cola designs. Drivers would pull in for a fill-up and leave with a piece of a growing collection, turning routine stops into mini shopping trips. These glasses quickly made their way into everyday use at home, and some families built entire sets without ever spending an extra dime. Today, full collections of these promotional glasses are prized as vintage Americana, representing a quirky era when customer loyalty was fueled by unexpected perks.
7. Golden Wheat China
One of the most memorable detergent giveaways came in the form of Golden Wheat china, offered by Duz throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Each box included a piece of porcelain dishware etched with a golden wheat pattern, allowing families to collect full sets one detergent purchase at a time. For many households, this became their “good china,” reserved for Sunday dinners or holidays, and it carried sentimental value that outlasted the promotion itself. The set’s enduring popularity means that complete collections are still traded today, often fetching hundreds of dollars online. What started as a simple laundry-day bonus became a symbol of thrift, tradition, and family pride.
8. Swanky Swigs
Kraft struck gold with its Swanky Swigs, small patterned juice glasses that came with its cheese spreads from the 1930s into the 1950s, later reappearing in the 1960s. The glasses were decorated with colorful designs, floral, geometric, or playful scenes, that stood out in any kitchen. Once the spread was eaten, the container lived on as a reusable drinking glass, instantly brightening breakfast tables across America. Families treasured these charming, practical pieces, and many kids grew up sipping juice or milk from them without realizing they were part of a promotional campaign. Swanky Swigs have since become collectible items, valued both for their whimsical designs and their role in turning food packaging into long-lasting household keepsakes.
9. Jell-O Molds and Cutters
In the 1950s through the 1970s, Jell-O made party food more exciting by slipping molds and cookie cutters into its boxes or offering them as mail-in promotions. These items allowed families to shape gelatin into fancy desserts or cut cookies into playful designs, adding flair to birthday parties, potlucks, and holiday gatherings. The molds often came in bright colors and whimsical shapes, making them instant favorites with children and home entertainers alike. Beyond just being fun, they encouraged creativity in the kitchen at a time when food presentation was becoming part of American culture. Many vintage molds and cutters survive today as nostalgic reminders of an era when even dessert could come with a surprise gift.
This story 9 Grocery & Kitchen Giveaways You Didn’t Even Know You Were Collecting was first published on Daily FETCH
