Welch’s Is Coming For Uncrustables In A Big Way

Honestly, this news story was just a matter of time. And now it’s finally happening. Since the introduction of the pre-made crustless sandwiches way back in 1995, Smucker’s has been the big name in the game. They bought the original idea and started selling Uncrustables in mass in 1998. (That makes their pivot to fridge stable only recently a seemingly delayed choice, but that’s not the focus here.) 

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Smucker’s isn’t the only big name you think of when it comes to your classic PB&J. When you think of grape jelly, there’s a good chance you just pictured a jar of Welch’s (or the squeeze bottle which is, let’s be honest, superior). But Welch’s has been content to just let consumers make their own sandwiches however they see fit. 

Not anymore though. Welch’s has just announced the release of their crustless pre-made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Real PB&Js. 

A Dig At Smucker’s

This isn’t just your typical announcement either. They made sure to point out (without naming names) why their sandwiches are superior. They boast a 50% larger sized sandwich packed with a whooping 12g of protein. Now they don’t say 50% bigger than what, but based on the fact that they went square shaped instead of say, rounded, it’s kind of obvious who they’re talking about. 

Welch’s sandwiches are made with real baked bread, creamy peanut butter, and Welch’s fruit spreads. There’s three available jelly options: Concord grape jelly, strawberry jam and mixed fruit. Now this isn’t a huge variety like Uncrustables, but they’re just starting. There’s sure to be more flavors coming down the line if this release goes well. 

Why’d This Take So Long?

This is a limited release for now, starting with select Walmarts nationwide with the plan to expand to more retailers in 2027. I find it very interesting that Welch’s waited so long to join the crustless sandwich game after seeing the popularity of Uncrustables. This seems like a development that should’ve come years ago. But maybe they’ve been working on it for that long and finally found a way to make it better than what currently reigns supreme. 

I certainly can’t wait to see how these new sandwiches compare to current standard that’s been set. Promising a bigger sandwich to help fill bigger appetites is a big challenge and it’ll be interesting to see if they manage to pull it off. I will certainly be checking out Walmart on my next run to see if we’ve got some in stock. I do really love Welch’s grape more than Smucker’s. And if you’ve got picky Welch’s kids like me, this may be the announcement you’ve been waiting for.