A great snack isn’t truly great until you’re holding it. That’s why, after the production line, our top priority at Newman’s is making sure our products are on the shelves of supermarkets and shops nationwide. This is where our team of drivers and merchandisers, our true delivery heroes, passionately traverse the roads, ensuring your favorite products reach you, come rain or shine.

But there’s a small, yet mighty, component in every one of our delivery trucks that makes this journey possible, especially during a downpour: the car wiper.

Did you know this essential safety feature was invented by a woman?

The story of the windshield wiper is the story of Mary Anderson, a pioneering American real estate developer. The invention was born on a snowy day in 1902 when she was riding a streetcar in New York City. Mary observed the driver struggling to see, repeatedly stopping or sticking his head out of the window to wipe the falling snow from the glass.

Seeing a problem, she devised an ingenious solution: a ‘window-cleaning device’ that could be operated from inside the vehicle. Her patented design consisted of a lever that controlled a spring-loaded arm with a rubber blade sweeping across the glass.

Sadly, many at the time downplayed her invention, claiming it had “no commercial value” for the nascent car market. How wrong they were! Today, it’s impossible to imagine a safe vehicle without wipers.

Mary Anderson’s simple solution drastically improved driver visibility and dramatically reduced accidents in poor weather.

So, as our Newman’s delivery fleet navigates every highway and backroad to bring your favorite Newman’s snacks to shops and supermarkets all over the country for your convenience, we have an incredible woman to thank for making that journey safe.

Every time a driver uses their wipers to clear the glass on a wet road, they are benefiting from Mary Anderson’s ingenuity—and that means a faster, safer delivery of your next salty, crunchy treat.