Brach's facts for kids
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| Type | Confectionery |
|---|---|
| Owner | Ferrara Candy Company |
| Introduced | 1904 |
| Markets | United States |
| Tagline | Break Out the Brach's |
Brach's is a well-known brand of candy and sweets. It is owned by the Ferrara Candy Company. Many people recognize Brach's for its wide variety of candies, especially around holidays.
Contents
The Sweet Story of Brach's
How Brach's Began
The story of Brach's began in 1904. A man named Emil J. Brach used his savings to open a candy store. It was located in Chicago, Illinois. He called his shop "Brach's Palace of Sweets."
Emil and his sons, Edwin and Frank, started with just one candy-making kettle. Emil found ways to make candy more cheaply. This allowed him to sell his candy for less money. Soon, his candy became very popular. By 1911, they were making 50,000 pounds of candy every week!
Growing Bigger and Better
By 1923, Brach's had four busy factories. Emil then built a huge new factory. It cost $5 million and opened in 1921. This factory brought all the candy making into one big building.
At that time, Brach's made 127 different kinds of candy. The factory could produce over 2 million pounds of candy each year. Over time, the factory grew even larger. New machines and ways of making candy were added.
In 1948, a fire caused an explosion at the factory. It was a very sad event. The factory was rebuilt and became even bigger. It could then make over 4 million pounds of candy yearly. At its busiest, 4,500 people worked there. It was known as the largest candy factory in the world. The factory closed in 2003. Most candy production moved to Mexico. Part of the old factory was even used in a movie in 2007. The rest was taken down in 2014.
Candy for Every Occasion
Before World War II, Brach's made candy bars. After the war, they focused on bulk and bagged candies. This was perfect as Trick or treating became popular for Halloween. Brach's became famous for its candy corn and other fall candies. These often came in small, ready-to-give packets.
In 1958, Brach's started the "Pick-A-Mix" idea. Customers could choose their favorite candies. They would scoop them from large containers. Then, they paid one price for each pound. This brought the old-fashioned candy store feel to modern supermarkets.
Changes in Ownership
Over the years, Brach's changed owners several times. In 1966, American Home Products Corporation bought the company. By 1986, Brach's sold two-thirds of all bagged candy in the U.S.
In 1987, a man named Klaus Jacobs bought Brach's. The company faced some challenges during this time. Its name was even changed for a while. Many popular candy types were stopped to save money. This made some big stores, like Walgreens and Walmart, look for other candy suppliers.
In 1990, Phillip Morris bought most of Jacobs' candy businesses. But Brach's stayed with Klaus Jacobs. There were disagreements about how to run the company. Brach's had many changes in its leaders.
In 1994, Jacobs bought another candy company, Brock Candy Company. For a while, the company was called Brach and Brock Candy Company. Later, it became Brach's Confections.
In 2003, Barry Callebaut AG bought the company. Then, in 2007, Farley's & Sathers Candy Company bought Brach's. This company later joined with Ferrara Pan Candy Company in 2012. Together, they formed the Ferrara Candy Company. This is the company that owns Brach's today.
Popular Brach's Candies
Brach's makes many different candies. They have everyday treats and special candies for holidays.
Caramels
One of Brach's first products was caramels. They made them in a way that kept costs low. This made them very popular. Caramels are still a favorite Brach's candy today.
Candy Corn
Brach's is well-known for its candy corn. While it's mostly eaten around Halloween, you can sometimes find it all year. It comes in different flavors like pumpkin spice and s'mores.
Conversation Hearts
Brach's Sweethearts are small, heart-shaped candies. They are very popular around Valentine's Day. Each heart has a short message printed on it. Messages include "Be Mine" or "Kiss Me." They now come in different sizes and themes.
Nougats
Brach's makes chewy, sweet nougats. These are available during certain seasons. Flavors change but have included peppermint and cinnamon for Christmas. There are also candy corn-flavored ones for Halloween. Ice cream-flavored nougats appear for Easter.
Jelly Beans
Brach's Original Jelly Beans are a favorite for the Easter season. Besides the classic mix, they come in spiced and sour flavors. They have even released tiny and jumbo versions.
Chocolates
Brach's also sells many chocolate candies. These include Malt Balls and Double Dipped Peanuts. For Easter, their Malt Balls are egg-shaped. They are covered in a speckled candy shell. These are called Fiesta Malted Milk Eggs.
Other Candies
Brach's makes other candies you can find all year. Some examples are Star Brite Mints and Caramel Royals. They also make Lemon Drops and Maple Nut Goodies. The Sundaes Neapolitan Coconut candy is no longer made since 2012.
See also
- Helen Brach
