Candy

Purdy’s Chocolates Corporate Office

Purdy’s Chocolates was founded in 1907 after the death of Richard Purdy’s wife. He sold his barbershop business in Ontairo, and moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to start over. He decided to try to make a business out of his lifelong love of chocolate and candy. Purdy sold his first chocolate candies on the street, near his home. He opened his first location in 1907.

Today, the company is one of the largest candy makers in Canada. The company has an online store that ships worldwide, as well as 33 stores in Alberta and British Columbia. Up until 1980, the company only made dark chocolates, but now offers a wide range of milk chocolates.

In the early part of the 1990’s, Purdy’s introduced their “Hedgehog” line of chocolate candies,which has become their biggest selling item. The company was family owned until a family dispute lead to the sale of the company to Eric Wilson and Charles Flavelle in 1963.

Purdy's Chocolates

History

Tootsie Roll Corporate Office

Tootsie Roll was founded by Leo Hirschfield in New York, New York, in 1886. He started off with a small candy shop, but realized that chocolate candy melted in hot weather and could not be sold. Hirschfield began to work on a candy that would taste like chocolate, but would not melt. The candy is named after his daughter’s nickname; Tootsie.

Today, Tootsie Roll is one of the largest candy companies in America, with more than $528 million in revenue in 2011. Tootsie Rolls, Tootsie Pops, and other types of Tootsie Roll candies are sold in more than 75 countries. The company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol: TR

The company has acquired several other candy makers over the years, including Andes Candies, Concord Confections, and The Charms Company.

Tootsie Roll

The company has acquired several other candy makers over the years, including Andes Candies, Concord Confections, and The Charms Company.

History

Russell Stover Candies Corporate Office

Russell Stover was founded in 1921, but not as a candy store. Russell Stover and partner Christian Nelson actually created the first chocolate covered ice cream, known as Eskimo Pies. While extremely successful, other companies began making their own versions of Eskimo Pie. Stover sold his share in the company and moved to Colorado. Russell and his wife Clara used this money to start a new business, selling boxed chocolates.

Today, Russell Stover’s Candies is owned by Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Sprugli. The company is one of America’s leading brand of chocolates, only behind Mars and Hershey’s. The company has three brands; Whitman’s, Russell Stovers, and Pangburn’s. Russell Stover brand candies are the largest sold, with more than 70,000 wholesale locations in more than 20 countries.

Approximately 60 percent of all boxed chocolates sold in the US come from the Russell Stover brand. The company also sells online and offers sugar free candy, as well as gift sets.

Russell Stovers

Approximately 60 percent of all boxed chocolates sold in the US come from the Russell Stover brand. The company also sells online and offers sugar free candy, as well as gift sets.

History

Fannie May Corporate Office

Fannie May, which sells chocolate candies, was founded in 1920, in Chicago, Illinois, by H. Teller Archibald. The recipes have never been altered, even when some ingredients were hard to find during WWII. After the war, the company grew substantially, with more than 50 store locations in the early 1950’s.

The company purchased their largest competitor, Fanny Farmer, in 1992, making the company, at the time, the largest chocolate producer in America. However, in 2002, the company was forced to file for bankruptcy. The company was ultimately purchased by 1-800-Flowers.Com in 2006 for $85 million.

Today, Fannie May operates in 7 states and Canada, with approximately 100 locations. In addition to chocolates, the company also sells coffee, gifts, and a wide range of other chocolate dipped foods including apples and strawberries.

In March 2017, Ferrero, maker of Nutella, acquired Fannie May for $115 million.

In late 2020, Fannie May marked their 100th anniversary with newly remodeled stores.

The company maintains a corporate office in Hudson, Ohio.

Fanny May

History

In March 2017, Ferrero, maker of Nutella, acquired Fannie May for $115 million.

In late 2020, Fannie May marked their 100th anniversary with newly remodeled stores.

The company maintains a corporate office in Hudson, Ohio.

Godiva Chocolates Corporate Office

Godiva Chocolatier, commonly known as Godiva Chocolates, was founded in 1926 by Joseph Draps, in Brussels, Belgium. The company opened its second location in Paris in 1958, but these premium chocolates did not reach the US until 1966.

The company was purchased by Campbell Soup in 1967, but was sold in 2007 to Yildiz Holdings, who also own Ulker, a Turkish food manufacturing company ,for $850 million.

Today, the company has 450 locations worldwide, with boxed chocolates sold in most upscale department stores, as well as 6 or more catalogs mailed within the US each year. The company also operates a website and takes telephone orders.

Godiva Chocolates opened Cafe Godiva in London’s Harrod’s department store in 2012, where guests can enjoy pastries, chocolate beverages, and, of course, chocolate candy.

Godiva Chocolates

The company was purchased by Campbell Soup in 1967, but was sold in 2007 to Yildiz Holdings, who also own Ulker, a Turkish food manufacturing company ,for $850 million.

History

Godiva Chocolates opened Cafe Godiva in London’s Harrod’s department store in 2012, where guests can enjoy pastries, chocolate beverages, and, of course, chocolate candy.