Clodhopper (candy) facts for kids
Clodhoppers are super tasty, crunchy snacks. They are made of graham cracker pieces covered in sweet fudge. These treats first came from a company called Kraves Candy Co. in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Later, in 2006, another company called Brookside Foods bought the Clodhoppers brand. Then, in 2011, a very famous candy company, Hershey's, bought Brookside Foods. So, Hershey's now owns Clodhoppers!
Clodhoppers come in different flavors. Today, you can find them in vanilla and cocoa. In the past, there were also dark chocolate, dark chocolate fudge, and "Cookies & Clods" flavors. The peanut butter flavor was the first one to stop being made.
Contents
The Sweet History of Clodhoppers
How Clodhoppers Began
The idea for Clodhoppers came from a grandmother named Edith Baker. She made these small, sweet candies for her family. She used graham wafer and chocolate to create them.
In 1996, Edith's grandson, Chris Emery, and his friend, Larry Finnson, decided to sell these special candies. They started making them in their garage!
Growing the Business
Their candy business grew quickly. By 1998, they signed a big deal with Wal-Mart. This meant Clodhoppers could be sold in many more stores.
The Kraves Candy factory in Winnipeg became very busy. It could make 2,500 pounds of Clodhoppers every hour! By 2006, the company had over 20 employees. They sold millions of Clodhoppers all over North America.
New Owners and a Comeback
In 2006, Kraves Candy Co. sold the Clodhoppers brand. Brookside Foods, a company from Abbotsford, British Columbia, bought the recipes and everything needed to make the candy. Kraves Candy was selling millions of dollars worth of Clodhoppers each year when they sold the company.
In 2012, Brookside Foods stopped making Clodhoppers. But the story didn't end there! Chris Emery and Larry Finnson, the original founders, started a new candy company called OMG's Candy. They made a similar product with almonds and toffee.
Then, in 2016, The Hershey Company brought Clodhoppers back! Hershey's had bought Brookside Foods in 2011. The revived Clodhoppers are available in vanilla and cocoa flavors. You can find them in some gas stations and convenience stores.
In 2017, Hershey's also released new Clodhoppers flavors. These were part of their Hershey's Crunchers line. They included flavors inspired by Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme bars, Reese's peanut butter cups, and s'mores.
