Sanders Confectionery facts for kids

Sanders Chocolates is a super old American company that makes delicious chocolates! It was started by Fred Sanders way back on June 17, 1875. Imagine, that's over 145 years ago!

In the middle of the 1900s, Sanders had 57 stores in the Great Lakes region. These stores were cool places where you could get candy, yummy fudge toppings, fresh baked goods, light lunches, and all sorts of desserts. Sanders is super famous for its special bumpy cake and amazing hot fudge cream puffs.

The Sweet History of Sanders

The company's founder was Frederick Sanders Schmidt, who came from Germany. He opened his first candy shop on June 17, 1875, in downtown Detroit. He decided to use his middle name, Sanders, for his company. Fun fact: His very first shop was actually in Chicago, but it had to move to Detroit after the big Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed it.

Soon, Sanders started selling ice cream, then baked goods, and even sweet cream sodas. In 1891, they opened their most famous shop, called the "Pavilion of Sweets." It had a cool red and white awning and a tower that looked like something from a fairy tale! Later, this store moved and was renamed the "Palace of Sweets."

Who Invented the Ice Cream Float?

Many people claim to have invented the ice cream float, but there's a popular story about Fred Sanders! One day, he found that his cream had gone bad. So, he used ice cream instead in a cream soda. And just like that, the ice cream float was born!

Sanders' hot fudge, made from a secret family recipe, became one of their most popular products. They are also famous for their bumpy cake. It's called "bumpy" because it has thick ridges of ganache (a chocolate glaze) over creamy buttercream on top. As the company grew, it became the biggest candy company in Detroit. They had many neighborhood candy stores, and some even had counters where you could grab a quick lunch or a soda fountain drink.

From 1941 to 1994, Sanders made their candy and other treats at a factory in Highland Park, Michigan. At its busiest, about 300 people worked there! The factory even got fresh milk from a place next door called the "Cow Palace" for their sweets, until city rules changed. The factory was sold in 1994 because the ceilings weren't tall enough for new machines. Sadly, the old factory caught fire in 2012.

By 1962, when the founder's great-grandson, John Sanders, took over, the company was making more than $20 million a year! They had 111 stores and sold their products in malls and grocery stores all over the country.

You can even see many old things from Sanders' history at the Detroit Historical Museum!

Cool Innovations from Sanders

Sanders was a company that liked to try new things! They were one of the first businesses in Detroit to be open on Sunday. Even though it made them money, Fred Sanders eventually decided to close on Sundays because of pressure from others.

The Detroit Historical Society says Sanders was a leader in many ways, including:

• They were one of the first to offer carry-out service, so you could take your treats home.
• They changed from tall counters to lower, table-height seating, which is more common today.
• They used dry ice to keep ice cream cold, which was a new idea back then!

Sanders was also one of the first in Detroit to use machines powered by electric motors. This was new technology, and the motors often broke down. Guess who was often hired to fix them? A young mechanic named Henry Ford, who later started the Ford Motor Company! He worked at the Edison Illuminating Company at the time.

New Owners and Continued Sweetness

In the 1970s and 1980s, the company faced tough times and more competition. They even had to close their main store downtown. In 1979, Stephen A. Horn became the first president who wasn't part of the Sanders family.

The company had money problems because of a tough economy in Detroit and higher costs for sugar and chocolate. In 1981, they had to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This helped protect them from legal action while they worked out how to pay back the $4 million they owed to over 700 businesses. At that time, Sanders had 1200 employees in its 50 stores and factory. In 1988, the company was bought by Country Home Bakery.

Then, in 2002, another Michigan candy company called Morley Candy Makers bought the Sanders name and all its original recipes. This meant Sanders' famous products could keep being made! Country Home Bakery, which no longer owned Sanders, was later bought by J&J Snack Foods in 2004.

In 2018, Sanders became part of Kar's Nuts when Kar's bought Morley and Sanders. Then, in 2021, Kar's and Sanders joined together under a new company name, Second Nature Brands. This company was bought by a UK-based company called CapVest Limited in 2022. So, even though the owners have changed, Sanders Chocolates is still making its delicious treats!

Sanders' Sweet Legacy Today

By 2014, there were nine Sanders shops left in the Detroit area, plus two more on Mackinac Island, Michigan. By 2016, the company was growing and becoming a popular dessert and candy brand all across the country.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States caused the company to close all but three of its few remaining stores in the Detroit area. But Sanders saw that many people still wanted their products, especially online! So, they decided to change how they do business. They are now focusing on selling more online and even offering home delivery services. This means it's even easier for people to get their favorite Sanders treats!

Images for kids

• Sanders Chocolates logo.svg

  Sanders Chocolates logo

• Sanders Bumpy Cake.jpg

  A delicious Sanders Bumpy Cake