Atkinson Candy Company facts for kids
| Private | |
| Industry | Confections manufacturer |
| Founded | 1932 |
| Founder | B.E. Atkinson, Sr. Mabel C. Atkinson |
| Headquarters | Lufkin, , |
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Key people
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Doug Hanks (COO) Eric Atkinson (President) Steve Ornell (VP of Sales & Marketing) Sarah Atkinson (Marketing Manager) |
| Products | "Chick-O-Stick" "Coconut Long Boys" Peanut brittle Mint twists "Peanut Butter Bars" Holiday candy |
The Atkinson Candy Company is a famous candy maker from Lufkin, Texas. They are most well-known for making a yummy treat called the Chick-O-Stick.
Contents
The Story of Atkinson Candy
The Atkinson Candy Company is a family-owned business. It was started in 1932 by B.E. Atkinson, Sr., and his wife, Mabel C. Atkinson.
How It All Began
Basil E. Atkinson, Sr. used to travel to Houston. He would buy candy and tobacco there. Then, he would sell it to small local shops on his way back home. This is how their candy business first started!
Who Runs the Company Now?
Today, the company works out of a large building. It is about 100,000 square feet (9,290 square meters) in size. Eric Atkinson, who is a grandchild of the founders, helps lead the company. The third and fourth generations of the Atkinson family are now running the business.
Judson-Atkinson Candies
In 1983, Atkinson Candy Company bought another local candy business. This was the Judson Candy Company. It later became known as Judson-Atkinson Candies. Judson-Atkinson was founded way back in 1899. It was located in San Antonio, Texas.
Why Judson-Atkinson Closed
In 2011, Judson-Atkinson had to close down. This happened because the prices of sugar and other ingredients became very high. Judson-Atkinson Candy Company used a lot of sugar. They used about four million pounds of sugar each year to make their candies!
What Candies Do They Make?
Atkinson Candy Company is really good at making candies with peanut butter and peppermint flavors.
Popular Candies You Might Know
Their current candy list includes many favorites:
- The famous Chick-O-Stick
- Coconut Long Boys
- Delicious peanut brittle
- Refreshing mint twists
- Tasty Peanut Butter Bars
- Special holiday candy
Other Candies They Make
Atkinson also makes a fancy line of hard candies. These are called Gemstone Candies. In 2013, they bought the rights to make other classic candies. These include Black Cow, Slo Poke, and Sophie Mae. Later, in 2019, they made a deal with another company. This allowed them to make the old Necco candy, Mary Janes.
