Lancaster Caramel Company facts for kids
The Lancaster Caramel Company was an American candy business located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It was started by Milton S. Hershey in 1886. This company was his first big success in the candy world. It helped him become well-known for making delicious sweets.
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The Sweet Story of Lancaster Caramel Company
How It All Began
Milton Hershey first set up his business in a warehouse in Lancaster. However, this place didn't have the right equipment to cook caramels. So, he soon moved to an old factory building on Church Street. This building used to be an electric plant.
The first few months were tough for the company. But then, a candy importer from Britain placed a very large order. A local bank also helped Hershey with a loan. This allowed him to buy the supplies he needed.
Growing Across the Country
As the business grew, Hershey used more and more of the factory space. By 1894, the Lancaster Caramel Company had about 1,300 employees. That's a lot of people making candy!
In 1891, Hershey bought land and a small factory in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania. This new factory quickly started making caramels too. The company expanded even further in 1892. It opened a branch in Chicago, which later moved to Bloomington, Illinois. This Bloomington factory operated until 1900. It was then sold to another candy company. Soon after, Hershey opened a third caramel factory in Reading, Pennsylvania.
A Big Change: Focusing on Chocolate
The Lancaster Caramel Company officially became a corporation on February 8, 1894. At this time, the Hershey Chocolate Company was also created as a part of it.
In the spring of 1900, Milton Hershey made a big decision. He believed that caramels were just a passing trend. He thought chocolate had a much bigger future. So, he sold his caramel business for $1 million in cash. This sale included the factory, machines, recipes, and all the caramel stock. He sold it to the American Caramel Company. Hershey kept the Hershey Chocolate Company and all his chocolate-making equipment. He was right about chocolate becoming very popular!
The American Caramel Company Takes Over
The Start of American Caramel
The American Caramel Company had its own interesting history. It grew from a business started by Peter C. Wiest in 1867. He was one of the first to make caramels successfully. In 1878, Daniel F. Lafean joined him, and they formed P. C. Wiest & Company.
Later, in 1895, the P. C. Wiest Company became an official corporation. Daniel F. Lafean became its president. He played a key role in creating the American Caramel Company. This new company was formed on March 28, 1898. It happened when two companies merged: the Breisch-Hine Company from Philadelphia and The P. C. Wiest & Company from York, Pennsylvania. The main office for the American Caramel Company was in York.
Becoming a Giant in Candy
After buying the Lancaster Caramel Company in 1900, the American Caramel Company became very famous. They started putting baseball and other cards inside their candy packages. This was a popular way to attract customers.
With the addition of Hershey's caramel business, the American Caramel Company grew huge. It soon controlled about 90% of all the caramel made in the country! They were one of the first companies to include baseball cards with their products. In December 1928, the American Caramel Company closed its York Plant. They moved their candy-making machines to a more modern facility.
See also
In Spanish: Lancaster Caramel Company para niños
