Doscher's Candies facts for kids
Doscher's Candies is an American company that makes delicious candies. It is famous for being the oldest company in the United States that still makes candy! They are also the oldest producer of candy canes in the country.
Claus Doescher made their very first handmade candy cane in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1871. The company is also well-known for a chewy treat called the French Chew. This special taffy was first made in 1896.
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| Private company | |
| Industry | Confectionery |
| Founded | 1871 |
| Headquarters |
,
U.S.
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| Products | Candy Canes, French Chew, Candy Buttons, etc. |
Contents
A Sweet Start: Doscher's History
How Doscher's Candies Began
In 1871, three brothers named Claus, John, and Heinrich Doescher moved from their uncle's candy shop. They decided to start their own candy business in Cincinnati, Ohio. They called their new company Doscher Brothers.
That same year, Claus made their very first candy canes. They used real peppermint oil to give them a fresh taste. The brothers cooked small amounts of melted sugar in copper pots. Then, they carefully rolled, kneaded, striped, and shaped each candy cane by hand.
More Than Just Candy Canes
The Doscher Brothers also made a sweet snack called Popcorn Fritters. This was a type of caramel popcorn. They sold this popcorn to the Cincinnati Redlegs baseball team. This made them one of the first companies to sell snacks at American baseball games!
In 1896, a new candy trend was popular in France: Turkish taffy. The Doschers created their own version called the French Chew. This chewy taffy is still made today! At first, French Chew was sold in big pieces. Candy stores would break them up and sell them by the pound. This led to their fun advertising slogan: "Freeze It, Crack It, Smack It."
Family Business Through the Years
After Claus passed away in 1883, his brother John took over the company. Later, Claus's sons, Harry and John, joined the business as partners.
Between 1932 and 1941, all three of these Doscher men passed away. Harry's wife, Elsie Doscher, then stepped up to lead the company. She had a finance degree from the University of Cincinnati. Elsie kept the business going strong even during the Great Depression, a very tough economic time.
In 1953, Elsie passed the company to her son, Harry II. He managed the business until the 1990s. Then, his son, Harry III, joined the family business.
New Owners and New Candies
In 2004, Greg Clark bought Doscher's Candies. Later, in 2015, Chip Nielsen, along with his wife and children, purchased part of the business.
Doscher's Candies has also grown by adding more sweet treats to its family. In 2018, they bought Candy Buttons after another company went out of business. In February 2019, Doscher's also bought Béquet Confections. This company makes gourmet caramel from Bozeman, Montana.
Sweet Brands from Doscher's
- Doscher's
- French Chew
- Candy Buttons
