Sunmark Corporation facts for kids
Sunmark Corporation was a company that made many popular candies. It was based in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States. The company was first known as Sunline Inc.
Sunmark Corporation created some candies that you might still enjoy today. These include Pixy Stix, SweeTarts, Spree, and Fun Dip.
Contents
History of Sunmark
How the Company Started
The company was founded in 1952 by Menlo F. Smith. It began as a new part of a business his father, Joseph Fish Smith, owned. They started making fun and tasty candies.
Growing and New Candies
Sunline Incorporated later changed its name to Sunmark, Inc. In 1975, Sunmark bought another company called Breaker Confections. This company made candies like the Wonka Bar. Sunmark then renamed this part of their business Willy Wonka Brands in 1980.
Sunmark also became a parent company for other brands. These included Sunline Brands, Sunfield Foods, and even David & Sons, which makes sunflower seeds. In 1983, Sunmark introduced a very popular candy called Nerds.
Becoming Part of Nestlé
In 1986, a company from the UK called Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionery bought Sunmark. Then, in 1988, a much larger company, Nestlé, bought Rowntree Mackintosh. This meant Sunmark's candies became part of Nestlé.
In 1993, Nestlé changed the name of the candy company to The Willy Wonka Candy Company. Over time, some of the candy factories that used to belong to Sunmark were closed down around 2006. This happened because the candy market became very competitive.
What Happened to the Candies Today
In 2018, the Ferrara Candy Company bought Nestlé USA's candy business. This company is owned by the Ferrero Group. So, many of the candies that Sunmark Corporation first created, like Pixy Stix, SweeTarts, and Fun Dip, are now made by the Ferrara Candy Company.
Famous Candies from Sunmark
Sunmark Corporation was known for inventing several candies that are still popular.
- Pixy Stix: A sweet powder in a paper straw.
- SweeTarts: Candies that are both sweet and tart.
- Spree: Small, colorful, chewy candies.
- Fun Dip: A candy powder you dip a stick into.
- Nerds: Tiny, crunchy candies with different flavors.
- Wonka Bar: A chocolate bar inspired by the famous story.
