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 (pronounced 'brahks') is a well-known candy brand. It is owned by the Ferrara Candy Company. Brach's makes many different kinds of sweets.
Contents
History of Brach's Candy
How Brach's Started
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 new store "Brach's Palace of Sweets."
Emil and his sons, Edwin and Frank, started with just one candy-making kettle. He bought more equipment to make candy cheaper. This allowed him to sell his candy for much less than other stores. By 1911, Brach's was making 50,000 pounds of candy every week!
Growing Bigger
By 1923, Brach had four busy factories. He then built a huge new factory in Chicago. This factory brought all the candy making into one big building. At that time, the company made 127 different kinds of candy.
The Kinzie plant, as it was called, grew even larger over the years. In 1948, a serious accident happened there. An electrical spark caused a big explosion that damaged part of the factory. After rebuilding, the plant became even bigger. It could make over 4 million pounds of candy each year. It was known as the largest candy factory in the world. At its busiest, 4,500 people worked there.
The factory was closed in 2003. Later, parts of it were used for filming The Dark Knight movie. The rest of the factory was taken down in 2014.
Candy for Everyone
Before World War II, Brach's made several candy bars. After the war, they focused on bulk and bagged candies. This was perfect as Trick or treating became very 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 from big bins. They would scoop them up and pay one price per pound. This brought the old-fashioned way of buying candy into modern supermarkets.
Changes in Ownership
In 1966, the American Home Products Corporation bought Brach's. Brach's was very successful during this time. It made up a large part of the U.S. market for bagged candy.
Later, in 1987, a man named Klaus Johann Jacobs bought the company. Over the next few years, Brach's faced some challenges. Sales went down, and the company lost money. Many important customers, like Walgreens and Walmart, started buying candy from other companies.
In 1990, Phillip Morris bought most of Jacobs Suchard, but not the U.S. part that included Brach's. Disagreements about how to run the company continued. Brach's had many changes in its leaders during this time.
In 1994, Jacobs bought the Brock Candy Company. For a while, the new company was called Brach and Brock Candy Company. Later, its name changed to Brach's Confections.
In 2003, Barry Callebaut AG bought Brach's. Then, in 2007, the company was sold to Farley's & Sathers Candy Company. This company later joined with Ferrara Pan Candy Company in 2012. Together, they formed the Ferrara Candy Company, which owns Brach's today.
Popular Brach's Candies
Brach's first product was caramels. They made them in a special way that kept prices low. This made them very popular. Today, caramels are still a main product. Brach's also offers many other candies for everyday treats and special holidays.
Candy Corn
Brach's candy corn is the top-selling candy corn in the United States. It is mostly known for Halloween. However, you can sometimes find it all year. It comes in many flavors, like pumpkin spice and s'mores.
Conversation Hearts
Brach's Sweethearts are small, heart-shaped sugar candies. They are sold around Valentine's Day. Each heart has a short message on it. Messages include "Be Mine" or "Kiss Me." They now come in different sizes and designs.
Chewy Nougats
Brach's chewy sweet nougats are available during certain seasons. The flavors change each year. Recently, they have offered peppermint and cinnamon for Christmas. There are also candy corn-flavored ones for Halloween.
Jelly Beans
Brach's Original Jelly Beans are a favorite for the Easter season. Besides the classic mix, you can find spiced and sour flavors. In 2015, they even made tiny and jumbo versions of their classic jelly beans.
Chocolates
Brach's also sells many chocolate candies. These include Malt Balls and Double Dipped Peanuts. For Easter, their Malt Balls are shaped like eggs. They are covered in a speckled candy shell. These are called Fiesta Malted Milk Eggs.
Other Candies
Brach's makes other candies that are available all year. Some of these are Star Brite Mints and Caramel Royals. They also make Lemon Drops and Maple Nut Goodies.
See also
- Helen Brach
