Spangler Candy Company facts for kids
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Formerly
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Spangler Manufacturing Company (1906–1920) |
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| Private | |
| Industry | Confectionery |
| Founded | August 20, 1906 (as Spangler Manufacturing Company) |
| Founder | Arthur G. Spangler |
| Headquarters | 400 N Portland St. Bryan, Ohio, U.S. 43506 |
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Key people
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Kirk Vashaw (Chairman & CEO) |
| Products | Candy |
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Number of employees
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650 |
The Spangler Candy Company makes and sells candy. It has been doing this for over 100 years! Their main office is in Bryan, Ohio. They make yummy treats like lollipops, candy canes, and marshmallow circus peanuts.
Some of their famous candies are Dum-Dums, Bit-O-Honey, Necco Wafers, Sweetheart Candies, Spangler Candy Canes, Spangler Circus Peanuts, and Canada Mints. Dum-Dums are their most well-known candy. They were invented in 1924, and Spangler bought them in 1953. These small, colorful lollipops are often given away for free.
In 2018, Spangler bought several brands from a company called Necco. This included Necco Wafers, Sweethearts conversation hearts, and Canada Mints. In 2020, Spangler also bought the rights to Bit-O-Honey candy.
Spangler is a very important company in Bryan, Ohio. It is the second largest employer there. Bryan is even known as the "Dum-Dums Capital of the World" because of Spangler. The company makes about 45% of all the candy canes sold in the United States. They also produce over 12 million Dum-Dums every single day!
The Sweet Story of Spangler Candy
The Spangler Candy Company started on August 20, 1906. A man named Arthur G. Spangler bought a company for $450. He moved it to Bryan, Ohio. The new company was called Spangler Manufacturing Company. At first, they made things like baking soda, baking powder, and spices.
In 1908, Arthur's brother, Ernest Spangler, joined the company. He thought they should start making candy. In 1911, the Spangler Cocoanut Ball became their very first candy! The business moved to its current spot in Bryan, Ohio, in 1913. Another brother, Omar Spangler, joined in 1914. He helped with machines and keeping records. In those early years, Spangler made many different candies, like Creme Peanut Clusters and hand-dipped chocolates.
Key Moments in Spangler's History
- 1920: The company's name changed to Spangler Candy Company. Truman Spangler, another family member, joined as a salesman.
- 1922: Spangler bought equipment to make hard candy. They started making stick candy, like the popular penny apple sucker. The sticks were put in by hand! They also bought chocolate equipment, so they didn't have to hand-dip chocolates anymore.
- 1940: Spangler created their Marshmallow Circus Peanuts. These were their own version of a popular penny candy.
- 1941: Marshmallow Topping was introduced. It became popular during World War II as a way to save sugar.
- 1945: The company's founder, Arthur Spangler, passed away.
- 1953: Spangler bought Dum Dum Pops from another candy company. This was a big step for them!
- 1954: They bought the A-Z Christmas Candy Cane Company. This helped them become a big candy cane maker.
- 1960: The second generation of the Spangler family started running the company. Many family members took on important roles.
- 1962: Spangler bought Shelby Bubble Gum.
- 1966: The famous Spangler Candy Dum-Dums Drum Man character was created.
- 1978: C. Gregory Spangler, a third-generation family member, became President.
- 1980: The company bought Standard the Candy Cane Company.
- 1996: Dean L. Spangler, also a third-generation family member, became President. Spangler also launched its first website.
- 2001: The "Save Wraps for Stuff" program returned. Kids could save wrappers to get cool items. A new website just for kids was also launched.
- 2005: The Spangler Candy Company Store & Museum opened. This allowed visitors to learn about the company's history.
- 2006: Spangler Candy celebrated its 100th birthday with a big party! A book about the company's history was also published.
- 2008: Kirkland B. Vashaw, a fourth-generation family member, became President.
- 2011: Kirk Vashaw became president and CEO. He was the seventh leader in the company's history. Later that year, Dum-Dums became the number one lollipop!
- 2013: Spangler Candy finished its 82nd factory addition. This added new equipment for packaging candy.
- 2014: William G. Martin became the first person outside the Spangler family to serve as president. Kirk Vashaw remained CEO.
- 2018: Spangler Candy bought more land for future growth. On September 21, they bought the Necco Wafers, Sweethearts, and Canada Mints brands. Production of Necco Wafers started again in May 2020. Sweethearts were relaunched for Valentine's Day 2021.
- 2020: The Bit-O-Honey candy brand was bought by Spangler Candy.
- 2022: Spangler Candy worked with the City of Bryan to paint eight huge Dum-Dums on the community water tower. The tower won awards for its amazing artwork!
- 2023: Bit-O-Honey candy started being made in Bryan, Ohio, in January. A big "wrapper-cutting" event was held in June to celebrate. In December 2023, Spangler Candy World opened in downtown Bryan. It's an interactive museum, a factory tour, and a store!
