You might call it a "twisted" tale of taste, tourism and trade.

Not only does Benzel’s Pretzel Factory satisfy millions of pretzel aficionados all over the world with its scrumptious snacks, but the 88-year-old business annually delights thousands of sightseers who come to tour the unique Altoona bakery and shop in the abundant factory outlet store.

The bakery — which has been in operation since 1911 — manufactures an astonishing 50 million pretzels daily in 32 different sizes, shapes and flavors. Benzel’s varieties range from minis, hard pretzels, nuggets and sticks to flavors like nacho cheese, honey mustard, even chocolate and cinnamon-graham.

"We manufacture pretzels exclusively," says Vice President of Marketing Ann M. Benzel, who helps to run the four-generation, family-owned company with her husband, Bill (president) and son Shaun (vice president of sales). "We are one of only four pretzel bakeries in the United States."

More than 150 employees work around the clock to generate enough pretzels to meet current demand, which is fueled by the outlet store, retail sales (including a brisk mail-order business) and wholesale business. As a part of the wholesale operation, Benzel’s manufactures "private-label" products for many national wholesale club stores, name-brand snack manufacturers and grocery store chains. It also markets its own brand, Pennysticks.

The factory consumes more than 100,000 pounds of flour and 4,000 pounds of salt every day in the pretzel manufacturing process.

That pretzel-making process has itself become a means to attract visitors to the factory and outlet store. The company began offering bakery tours some 25 years ago when it moved into its current facility.

"We have more than 300 scheduled bus tours of our bakery every year; people come in from nearby, as well as from all over the East Coast," said Ann Benzel, noting that most visitors hale from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio.

Many who visit, she noted, make the pretzel factory one part of an itinerary that might include stopovers at other popular Altoona attractions like the Horseshoe Curve, the Altoona Memorial Railroader’s Museum and the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art.

"Walk-in" visitors can take a self-guided tour of the pretzel bakery, which is "one of the most modern pretzel bakeries in the world," according to the company’s web site, www.benzels.com. Guests can observe the massive, stainless steel ovens through a glass-enclosed hallway. Ann noted that, in order to safeguard consumers and ensure a high-quality product, the bakery floor is accessible only to employees.

"Our guests especially enjoy sampling the warm pretzels that have just come out of the oven," she said. She noted that founder Adolph Benzel’s exact family recipe is still being used in the production of almost all the pretzels.

At the outlet store, visitors can view an in-depth factory tour video and shop for pretzels and other snack foods and gifts. Especially popular are the holiday gift items, like pretzel gift baskets and tins of pretzels. The outlet store also sells bulk candies, potato chips, tortilla chips, salsa, dips, nuts, cookies and crackers.

Ann added that many who tour the factory and outlet shop also visit the authentic, on-site caboose and enjoy a stroll through the serene gardens at the factory.

In all, it’s truly an experience to please more than just one of the five senses.