Confections

See’s Candies Corporate Office

See’s Candies was founded in 1921 by Mary See, her son Charles and his wife Florence in Los Angeles, California. Mary See had developed her candy recipes while helping her husband run a hotel in Ontario. After her husband’s death, Mary and her son moved to Los Angeles and used her recipes to sell candy. Even throughout the Great Depression, there was a demand for See’s unique recipes. By the mid-1920’s, the company had more than 12 locations in California. The Bakersfield store was the first of its kind to have a white, all porcelain store.

In 1952, Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance spent a half day at the See’s Candies store on La Cienega Boulevard in Los Angeles, learning to dip chocolates and work the production line, in preparation for the “Job Switching” episode of I Love Lucy. The episode, which featured Lucy and Ethel getting jobs in a chocolate factory, became one of the most popular in the show’s history.

The family sold the business in 1972 to Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. for $25 million. Today, there are more than 200 stores in the US and few in Hong Kong, Japan, and Macau. The company has more than 1500 full-time employees and as many as 6,000 during peak holiday seasons, such as Christmas and Mother’s Day.

The majority of See’s Candies are sold in their own stores, but there is an online ordering service and, during the holidays, the company sells from kiosks in shopping malls or other types of shopping centers.

See's Candies

History

Mars Corporate Office

Frank C. Mars opened The Mars Candy Factory in 1911 with his second wife, Ethel Mars, in Tacoma, Washington. The factory produced fresh candy which the company sold wholesale. This venture failed.

In 1920 Frank, now back in his home state of Minnesota, founded Mar-O-Bar Co., which is the earliest incarnation of the present company.

Frank’s son, Forrest Mars, introduced the Milky Way bar, which became the company’s best-selling candy bar.

In 1929 Frank moved the company to Chicago.

In 1932 Forrest expanded to the United Kingdom. The same year, Mars launched the Mars bar.

Today Mars continues to be a family business, now owned by fourth-generation Mars family members. The company is now run by non-family members.

Mars, Inc. is an American global manufacturer whose global brands include M&M’s, Snickers, 3 Musketeers, Mars bar, Dove, Milky Way, Skittles, and Twix. The company also makes Uncle Ben’s rice, pet food made under the Pedigree, Sheba, and Whiskas labels, Seeds of Change organic food, Klix and Flavia beverage systems, and owns the world’s largest chewing gum maker, Wm. Wrigley Company.

Mars, Inc. is #3 on the Forbes list of America’s Largest Private Companies. Mars has 80,000 employees and had $35 billion in revenue in 2017.

Mars, Inc.

Frank C. Mars opened The Mars Candy Factory in 1911 with his second wife, Ethel Mars, in Tacoma, Washington. The factory produced fresh candy which the company sold wholesale. This venture failed.

In 1920 Frank, now back in his home state of Minnesota, founded Mar-O-Bar Co., which is the earliest incarnation of the present company.

History

Frank’s son, Forrest Mars, introduced the Milky Way bar, which became the company’s best-selling candy bar.

In 1929 Frank moved the company to Chicago.

In 1932 Forrest expanded to the United Kingdom. The same year, Mars launched the Mars bar.

Today Mars continues to be a family business, now owned by fourth-generation Mars family members. The company is now run by non-family members.

Mars, Inc. is #3 on the Forbes list of America’s Largest Private Companies. Mars has 80,000 employees and had $35 billion in revenue in 2017.

Dunkin Donuts Corporate Office

Dunkin Donuts was founded in 1950 by William Rosenberg. The first location was in Quincy, Massachusetts.

In 1955, the first franchise opened in Worcester.

In 1963, the chain opened its 100th corporately owned location. In 1964, the 1000th franchise opened.

In 1990, the 2000th location opened.

In 2004, the company headquarters was relocated to Canton, Massachusetts.

In 2006, the company was acquired by several private equity firms led by Bain Capital.

In 2007, the first location in Taiwan was opened.

Dunkin Brands, the parent company of Dunkin Donuts, went public in 2011.

The company currently operates over 12,000 locations in 42 countries worldwide.

In 2015, the company had more than $10 billion in revenue.

The company announced in early 2015 that it would close 100 low-performing sites, but planned to open another 100 locations in other states, especially in California.

The company also stated in 2016 that it had plans to add more than 1,000 locations in China over the next 20 years.

In late July 2018, the company launched a new snack collection, with items costing no more than $2. Food items include chicken strips and ham and cheese roll-ups.

With approximately 12,900 locations in 42 countries and more than 270,000 employees, Dunkin’ is one of the largest coffee shop and donut shop chains in the world.

Actor Ben Affleck began plugging Dunkin’ Donuts in January 2023.

In January 2023, a customer inexplicably threw hot coffee on a worker at an Ohio store.

Dunkin Donuts maintains a corporate office in Canton, Massachusetts.

Dunkin Donuts

Dunkin Donuts was founded in 1950 by William Rosenberg. The first location was in Quincy, Massachusetts.

In 1955, the first franchise opened in Worcester.

History

In 1963, the chain opened its 100th corporately owned location. In 1964, the 1000th franchise opened.

In 1990, the 2000th location opened.

In 2004, the company headquarters was relocated to Canton, Massachusetts.

In 2006, the company was acquired by several private equity firms led by Bain Capital.

In 2007, the first location in Taiwan was opened.

Dunkin Brands, the parent company of Dunkin Donuts, went public in 2011.

The company currently operates over 12,000 locations in 42 countries worldwide.

In 2015, the company had more than $10 billion in revenue.

The company announced in early 2015 that it would close 100 low-performing sites, but planned to open another 100 locations in other states, especially in California.

The company also stated in 2016 that it had plans to add more than 1,000 locations in China over the next 20 years.

In late July 2018, the company launched a new snack collection, with items costing no more than $2. Food items include chicken strips and ham and cheese roll-ups.

With approximately 12,900 locations in 42 countries and more than 270,000 employees, Dunkin’ is one of the largest coffee shop and donut shop chains in the world.

Actor Ben Affleck began plugging Dunkin’ Donuts in January 2023.

In January 2023, a customer inexplicably threw hot coffee on a worker at an Ohio store.

Dunkin Donuts maintains a corporate office in Canton, Massachusetts.

Jelly Belly Corporate Office

The Jelly Belly jelly bean was invented by David Klein. In 1976, Klein approached the Herman Goelitz Candy Company and asked them to produce a gourmet jelly bean for him which would be known as a Jelly Belly.

In 1980, the Goelitz Candy Company purchased Jelly Belly from Klein.

The Jelly Belly gained national exposure as it was a favorite treat of President Ronald Reagan.

The Goelitz Candy Company eventually changed their name to the Jelly Belly Candy Company.

Today, the company produces over 37 million pounds of candy each year.

Jelly Belly

In 1980, the Goelitz Candy Company purchased Jelly Belly from Klein.

The Jelly Belly gained national exposure as it was a favorite treat of President Ronald Reagan.

History

The Goelitz Candy Company eventually changed their name to the Jelly Belly Candy Company.

Today, the company produces over 37 million pounds of candy each year.