Compiled by Jon Prince

Established in 1927, we have seen many candy trends come and go, and we are often asked about the history of candy and the current craze for retro candies.



Perhaps we could say that the fascination with candy, and with chocolate in particular, first occurred in 1502 when Christopher Columbus returned home from his fourth voyage of the "Americas." Although he was not partial to this bittersweet treat, his benefactors in Spain found it fascinating, and 500 years later, the love of chocolate continues stronger than ever.



Although it would be impossible to present an exact history, this timeline illustrates the development of the American candy industry from the 1800's onward. As you will see, many retro candies and their founding companies have come and gone, but it is interesting to note that 65 percent of American candy bars have been around for more than 60 years and many original manufacturers have been acquired by larger conglomerates. We hope you enjoy the journey!

PS: The vintage picture above is our first candy showroom Circa. 1943

The 1800s

The 1900s

1900 A very important year as Milton Hershey introduces a variation of what will eventually become the Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar.

1900 Clark Gum Company introduces Teaberry Gum. Find out what flavor it tastes like and the dance craze it inspired here.

1901 The King Leo pure peppermint stick candy is developed

1901 Multicolored candy disks called NECCO Wafers first appear. The name stands for New England Confectionery Company

1902 New England Confectionery Company (NECCO) makes the first Conversation Hearts which are still a thriving Valentine’s tradition

1904 Emil J.Brach invests $1000 to create the "Brach's Palace of Sweets" and thus Brach's Candy is born. Learn more about this fabled American candy institution.

1905 The Squirrel Brand Company of Massachusetts creates the first peanut bar known as the Squirrel Nut Zipper. It was, sadly, discontinued in the late 1980s, but resurrected in the 1990s

1905 Flush with the success of their Conversation Hearts, New England Confectionary Company introduces another classic peanut butter candy called Peach Blossoms

1906 Spangler Manufacturing Company, know now as Spangler Candy, is created. The company got its start manufacturing baking soda products but added candy to their repertoire in 1908

1906 Hershey's Milk Chocolate Kisses appear in the iconic silver foil wrapping and a town in Pennsylvania called Derry Church changes its name to Hershey

1906 The American Chicle Company introduces Chiclets, the candy-coated gum that uses chicle inside. To learn what exactly is chicle and where it comes from, click here

1907 After the great success of the Milk Chocolate Bar, Hershey introduces the beloved Hershey's Kisses. The original Hershey's Kiss were called Silvertops and sold as individual units (this first incarnation was discontinued in 1931)

1908 Hershey's adds almonds to its already famous Milk Chocolate Bar

1908 Theodor Tobler and his cousin Emil Baumann invent a delicious Swiss Milk Chocolate and Honey and Nougat infused candy bar called Toblerone.

The 1910s

1911 Ethel and Frank Mars open a candy company in Tacoma, Washington. The company, later Mars, Inc., would become one of the largest, privately owned candy companies in the entire world

1912 Life Savers, reportedly named because of their resemblance to life preservers, are introduced in peppermint flavor. The five-flavor roll isn’t marketed for another 22 years

1912 The Whitman's Sampler box of chocolate debuts and is the first box of chocolates to include an index for chocolate lovers to pick exactly which piece they want to eat

1912 Goo Goo Clusters, a Southern favorite from Nashville, TN, is introduced. They were the first candy bar to combine milk chocolate, marshmallow, caramel, and peanuts and are the oldest "combination" candy bar in existence.

1914 The Heath Bar is introduced by L.S. Heath & Sons

1914 Mary Janes are created by Charles N. Miller in Boston, MA. Learn more about this nostalgic classic here.

1916 George DeMet introduces the Turtle, chocolate-covered caramel and nut candy that strikes a resemblance to a real turtle. Discover more about this creamy classic here.

1917 Goldenberg Candy Company, in Philadelphia, PA, creates the Goldenberg's Peanut Chews as a high-protein energy ration for WWI troops (they aren’t available to retail customers until 1921, however). The company sells and is renamed Just Born in 2003. Unwrap more about their fascinating history here!

1917 Created only a few blocks from our warehouse, David L.Clark created the Clark Bar. The crunchy Peanut Butter and Toffee candy bar lasted for over 100 years! A variation called Clark Cups was introduced in 2019 by Boyer Candy but it wasn't until February 14, 2020, that the Original Clark Bar returned to the market. True to their roots, the soft launch occurred in Pittsburgh on Valentine's Day.

The 1920s

The 1930s

The 1940s

1941 Bruce Murrie, the President of Hershey Chocolates, joins forces with Forrest Mars and opens a company called M&M Ltd

1941 M&M's Plain Chocolate candies are introduced, with six colors, in response to depressed chocolate sales during the summer months (these candies will melt in your mouth, not in your hands).

1940 Hershey produces a special chocolate bar called the D Bar which is high in calories and has a high melting point, designed as a survival ration for soldiers. It is wrapped in wax paper so that it will be impervious to poisonous gas, and to prevent soldiers from eating it too quickly, the flavor is bittersweet

1942-1945 To help maintain wartime morale, women at the Whitman’s Candy Company slipped notes to soldiers in boxes of Whitman’s Chocolate Samplers set to ship to the troops. The notes resulted at least a few friendships and even a couple of marriages

1945 M&M Mars decides to change the formula for the 3 Musketeers Bar to one that’s all chocolate

1945 The Mason Company introduces Dots in strawberry, cherry, orange, lime and lemon flavors.

1947 Peter Paul introduces Mounds

1947 Topps Candy Company introduces Bazooka Bubble Gum. This iconic American confection would endure for 65 years until it was discontinued in 2012.

1947 Frankford Candy & Chocolate Company is founded in Philadelphia, PA

1949 Junior Mints are introduced

1949 Smarties candy roll wafers are introduced, often called “candy pills." Become smarter on Smarties with our history page here!

1949 El Bubble Bubble Gum Cigars are the first five-cent bubble gum.

1949 Leaf Confectionery changes the name of a popular chocolate-covered malted milk ball from Giants to Whoppers. Learn more about its great history here.

The 1950s

1950 Sam Altshuler creates The Annabelle Candy Company, named for his daughter. His first product is the Rocky Road Candy Bar. Discover more historical facts here!

1954 Just Born introduces Marshmallow Peeps in the shape of Easter chicks. Learn more about how Peeps were born here

1954 Flush with the success of plain M&M's, M&M Mars introduces a version with a peanut in the center.

1950 Bobs Candy Canes are introduced, sold under the Cris Cringle brand

1952 Sunline Inc. introduces a powdery candy called Pixy Stix that was a precursor to powder candies such as Fun Dip.

1952 Topps Candy Co., introduces the first comic character called Bazooka, The Atomic Bubble Boy who was later replaced by Bazooka Joe.

1958 Candy Necklaces are introduced, an enduring retro candy classic today

1958 Eric Bernat introduces bulk Chupa Chup Lollipops with a clear wrapper. It is not until 1968 that the labels become iconic.

The 1960s

1960 Looking to create a healthy candy, M&M Mars introduces Starburst Fruit Chews, which are later fortified with Vitamin C

1960 Although the exact date is not known, Regal Crown Sours start trickling in from the United Kingdom although they were originally made in Denmark.

1960 Amurol confections introduce the first sugar-free bubble gum. They called it Blammo

1960 Ferrara Pan Candy Company introduces Lemonheads and, later this same year, Apple Heads, Grape Heads, and Orange Heads

1962 Hershey begins to sell Hershey's Kisses in colored wrappers

1962 Sunline Industry introduces Sweetarts expanding on the popularity of Pixy Stix as they shared the same five fruit flavors.

1962 The Phoenix Candy Company, located in Brooklyn, New York, introduces a taffy and encourages consumers to "enjoy a piece now and save a few for later" aptly naming the product Now & Later

1963 Cadbury Brothers introduce a filled chocolate egg called Fry Creme Eggs. In 1971, the name as changed to Cadbury Creme Eggs , and an Easter classic was officially born.

1963 The Hershey’s Chocolate Company acquires the H.B. Reese Company for the handsome sum of $23 million

1966 Fleer introduces Razzles, "First it's a candy, then it's a gum!" Get dazzled by this innovative candy's history here.

1966 The Campbell Soup Company acquires the Belgian Chocolatier Godiva

1988 Due to the popularity of Sweetarts, a candy-coated version was introduced called Spree Candy Roll Wafers.

1966 100 Grand candy bar is created. Find out how it was used in some mischievous pranks here.

1968 Zotz are introduced, one of the first "sour fizzy" candies

1969 Chupa Chup Lollipops become an art form as the painter Salvador Dali designed the label. He insisted that the logo always is on the top of the wrapper.

The 1970s

1970 M&M Mars introduces the Snickers Munch Bar

1970 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups become so popular that the Hershey Food Corporation doubles its production in order to meet worldwide demand

1970 Frank Galatolie introduced a treat called Mars Men which was only available in Canada. This "Sour then Sweet" treat later became Sour Patch Kids. Want to learn more?

1971 Ferrara Candy Company introduced panned candies called Alexander the Grape, Cherry Clan, and Johnny Apple Treats. To learn more about Ferrara Candy, please click here.

1971 Nestle introduces Laffy Taffy, the taffy with a joke inside every package. Learn more about the hilarious history here.

1973 Hershey opens the first candy-related theme park known as Hershey's Chocolate World

1973 Hershey becomes the first candy company to offer ingredients and nutritional information on wrappers

1974 General Mills introduces a truly revolutionary new product called Pop Rocks. This lead to a rumor that swept the nation. Curious? Learn more

1974 Chuckles jelly candy sponsors daredevil Evil Knievel. Discover more about this unlikely partnership here.

1976 Herman Goelitz Company introduces individually-flavored jelly beans called Jelly Belly

1976 Hershey decides to tweak the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup and offers a version with peanuts called Reese's Crunchy

1977 Hershey introduces a new variation of the "Great American Chocolate Bar" called Golden Almond

1978 Because of the massive success of Reese Peanut Butter Cups, Hershey’s introduces Reese's Pieces

1978 Cadbury Adams discontinues Beemans, Black Jack, and Clove Gum only to reintroduce them in 1985 as part of a "nostalgic campaign". They are permanently discontinued in 2015 and reintroduced by Gerritt J. Verburg in 2019

1979 M&M Mars introduces the Twix Caramel Cookie Candy Bar

1979 Frank Richards invents everyone's favorite lickable jewelry, the Ring Pop.

The 1980s

1980 Herman Goelitz Company introduces the first American-made gummi bears and gummi worms, which up to now had been imported from Europe

1980 Rob Nelson and Jim Bouton create Big League Chew, America's favorite shredded bubble gum. Learn more about its fantastic history here!

1981 M&M's, or as Nasa deemed them "candy-coated chocolates", take a journey to the solar system aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia

1981 After their success in Europe, M&M Mars introduces Skittle Bite Size Candies to the United States

1982 Van Halen introduces the infamous "Brown M&M's Rider" into their concert contract, banning Brown M&M's from their dressing room. Find out why they did it here

1983 Albanese Candy is founded with the aim of producing the world's best gummi products.

1983 Angelo Fraggos invents Nerds, the crunchy little candy with a mysterious name. Learn more about Nerd history here.

1985 After a 122-year run, Cella's Cherries was acquired by Tootsie Industries. It remains the only cherry with a "liquid-filled center" available.

1986 Ferrara Candy adds Mr.Melon, a chewy watermelon candy, to their line up.

1985 Sour Patch Kids migrate to the United States. Frank Galatolie invented them in the 1970s but they were only available for purchase in Canada. It wasn't until 2013 that Blue was added to the mix!

1988 Hershey’s Chocolate Company is renamed Hershey Chocolate USA

1989 Hershey introduces the Symphony Bar, a combination of almonds, toffee, and milk chocolate thus taking the "Great American Chocolate Bar" to the next level.

The 1990s

1990 Hershey sends 144,000 heat-resistant candy bars, called Desert Bars, to soldiers in the Gulf War. The formula is identical to what was sent to soldiers stationed in Asia during the Second World War.

1991 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups continue to be a worldwide favorite and the recipe is improved with three times the amount of peanuts

1992 M&M Mars introduces the DOVE Dark Chocolate Bar and DOVE Milk Chocolate Bar

1993 Ferrara changed the name of Alexander the Grape, Cherry Clan, Johnny Apple Treats ,and Mr.Melon to reflect their success with Lemonheads. The names were changed back in 2020 under the auspices of 1908 Candy Co.

1993 Hershey introduces Miniature Hershey's Kisses as well as white chocolate kisses called Hugs

1994 M&M Mars introduces Starburst Jelly Beans

2000 M&M Mars finally shortens its name to M&M's. It only took 41 years....