Hollywood Candy Company facts for kids

The Hollywood Candy Company, also known as Hollywood Brands, was an American company that made delicious candies. It was started in 1912 by Frank Martoccio in Hollywood, Minnesota.

How the Company Started

Frank Martoccio already owned a company that made macaroni. In 1911, one of his machines broke down. He decided to buy a candy factory that was no longer working. He only wanted to get a machine from it. But then, people convinced him to buy the whole candy factory! This is how he unexpectedly got into the candy business.

In 1927, Martoccio bought another candy company called Pendergast Candy Company. This company had found a special way to make fluffy nougat. This nougat was so good that Frank Mars copied it for his famous Milky Way candy bars. In 1933, Martoccio changed the company's name to Hollywood Brands.

Frank Martoccio was very clever. He invented a special coating for his candy bars. This coating helped them not melt when it was warm. He also used only the best ingredients, like real cocoa butter and eggs. Even with these great ingredients, he sold his milk chocolate bars for only 3 cents. At that time (1955), a Hershey bar cost 5 cents! This special pricing stopped after the company was sold in 1967.

Moving and Changing Hands

The Hollywood Candy Company moved to Centralia, Illinois, in 1938. In the 1950s, the company had a small car called a Crosley Super Sport. They painted it to look just like their Zero candy bar wrapper! They even hired a little person to dress up as a character named Zero. This person would drive the car around to advertise the candy bar.

In 1967, the Martoccio family sold Hollywood Brands to a company called Consolidated Foods. This company later became Sara Lee. Sadly, the candy factory in Centralia was destroyed by a big fire in 1980.

Later, in 1988, Hollywood Brands was bought by the Leaf Candy Company. Then, in 1996, it became part of The Hershey Company.

Popular Candy Bars

Hollywood Candy Company made many different kinds of candy bars. Here are some of their most famous ones:

• Butter-Nut (1916): This bar was so popular that the company even won a court case to keep its name!
• Zero (1920): This bar had a white coating that did not melt in the heat. It came in a silver wrapper with a big blue and silver "ZERO" on it. You can still buy Zero bars today!
• Milkshake (1927): This bar was similar to a Milky Way bar. But it had a malt flavor instead of just chocolate.
• Pay Day (1932): This bar had a caramel nougat covered with whole peanuts. Pay Day bars are still made today!
• Hollywood: This bar had a dark chocolate coating over caramel, nougat, and peanuts.
• Big Time: This was like a Milkshake bar but with peanuts added. It had a purple wrapper with "Big Time" written on it.
• Red Sails
• Smooth Sailin: This bar had a dark chocolate coating over walnut-flavored nougat. It came in a blue wrapper with silver sailboats.
• 747
• Almond
• Swinger
• Buccaneers
• Treasure Bar
• Nut Sundae Bar
• Sno King Candy Bar
• Teddy Bear: This bar had peanuts, chocolate, and nougat.
• Nut Patti: This bar had almonds, chocolate, and nougat.
• Tafy Nut / Tofy-Nut
• 3 Big Bears: This was special because it was three chocolate bars in one package!
• Top Star: This bar had coconut, caramel, and nougat.