See's Candies facts for kids
 |
|
|
|
| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Retail and candy |
| Founded | November 1921 |
| Founder | Charles See |
| Headquarters |
,
United States
|
|
Key people
|
Pat Egan (CEO) |
| Products | Chocolate, candy, brittle |
| Revenue | US$ $410 million (2016) |
| US$ over $80 million (2019) | |
| Owner | Berkshire Hathaway |
|
Number of employees
|
1,500 year-round, 6,000+ seasonal |
See's Candies is a famous American company that makes and sells delicious candy, especially chocolates. It was started by Charles See, his wife Florence, and his mother Mary in Los Angeles, California in 1921. Today, the company's main office is in South San Francisco, California.
See's Candies still makes its treats in Los Angeles and at its headquarters. The company has been owned by Warren Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway, since 1972.
Contents
Where Can You Find See's Candies?
See's Candies mostly sells its products in its own stores. You can find these stores in many places, including some airports in the United States.
Stores Across the USA
See's Candies has over 200 stores across the U.S. Most of these stores, more than 70%, are in California. You can also find them in states like Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.
They also have stores outside the U.S. in places like Hong Kong, the Philippines, Taiwan, Singapore, and South Korea. During holidays, you might even see See's kiosks in malls.
Buying Online and More
If you live somewhere without a See's store, you can still buy their candies! They sell them through mail order catalogs and online. You can find links to their website on other shopping sites too.
Sometimes, you can buy special coupons for See's Candies at stores like Costco. These coupons can be used at See's stores or when ordering by mail. These coupons are also often sold to help raise money for different groups.
A Short Break During COVID-19
In 2020, See's Candies had to close its operations for a short time because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the first time they had to stop making candy since World War II. Back then, it was hard to get sugar and other ingredients because of the war.
Later in 2020, See's Candies opened a new store in Abu Dhabi, which is in the United Arab Emirates.
The Sweet History of See's Candies
The story of See's Candies began in 1921. Charles Alexander See II came to the United States from Canada with his wife Florence and his mother Mary.
How It All Started
Mary See was a great cook! She created many of the candy recipes that are still used today. She developed these recipes while helping to run her husband's hotel in Canada.
The family opened their very first See's Candies shop and kitchen in Los Angeles in November 1921. They quickly became popular. By the mid-1920s, they had twelve shops. Even during the Great Depression, a tough time for many businesses, See's managed to run thirty shops. In 1941, they opened their first "all porcelain" store, which was white and black, in Bakersfield, California.
Growing Bigger and Better
In 1936, See's opened a shop in San Francisco. They later moved some of their candy-making, especially for creams and truffles, to South San Francisco. This was a smart move because the colder weather there is perfect for making and storing chocolate!
Joining the Berkshire Hathaway Family
In 1972, the See family sold the company to Berkshire Hathaway for $25 million. Berkshire Hathaway is a huge company run by famous investor Warren Buffett. Warren Buffett has called See's "the prototype of a dream business." This means it was a perfect example of a business that makes good money and has a strong brand.
This purchase was very important for Berkshire Hathaway. Before See's, they often bought companies that were cheap. But See's taught them the value of buying businesses that are well-known and have a great reputation.
Making the Candies: Ingredients and a World Record!
The special chocolate used by See's is called 'couverture' chocolate. It comes from the nearby Guittard Chocolate Company. The nuts they use come from Mariani Nut Company in California.
See's Candies even holds a world record! On June 20, 2012, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized See's for making the world's largest lollipop. This giant chocolate lollipop weighed an amazing 7,003 pounds (about 3,177 kg)! It was 4 feet 8.75 inches (1.44 meters) long, 3 feet 6 inches (1.07 meters) wide, and 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 meters) high. That's like 145,000 regular-sized lollipops!
See also
In Spanish: See's Candies para niños
