The Warrell Corporation facts for kids

The Warrell Corporation is a company that makes yummy candies and snack foods. It's located in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, a state in the United States.

History of Warrell Corporation

The company started way back in 1965. It was founded by a person named Lincoln Warrell. Back then, it had a different name: Pennsylvania Dutch Candies.

In the year 2000, something big happened. Pennsylvania Dutch Candies joined with two other candy companies, Katherine Beecher Candies and Melster Candies. They all came together under a new name: The Warrell Corporation. At this time, they also opened a huge new factory, about the size of four football fields! Melster Candies had actually been part of the group since 1982, but it was sold to another company in 2004.

Today, Warrell Corporation has more than 300 employees. Their main factories are in Lower Allen, Pennsylvania. In 2019, the company started a new part of their business called Warrell Creations. A big part of what Warrell does is make candies for other companies. This is called "contract manufacturing." They are especially good at making large amounts of chocolate. Warrell Creations can also roast nuts over a fire and create tasty nut clusters. The company works hard to make products that people buy all year round, not just during holidays.

The person in charge of the company right now is Patricia Zwergel. She is the Chairman and CEO. Lincoln Warrell, who started the company, was honored in 2001. He was added to the Candy Hall of Fame because of his important work in the candy world. The Pennsylvania Dutch Candies brand stayed with Warrell Corporation until 2020, when it was sold to another company.

Past Brands of Warrell Corporation

Warrell Corporation has owned several popular candy brands over the years.

Pennsylvania Dutch Candies

Pennsylvania Dutch Candies was a well-known brand under Warrell Corporation until 2020. They made many different kinds of sweets. Some of their candies included sanded candy drops, delicious chocolate-covered pretzels, long stick candies, nuts, dried fruits, and crunchy peanut brittle.

Bonomo's Turkish Taffy

In 2010, Warrell Corporation started making Bonomo's Turkish Taffy. This was a special job because Warrell was the only company with the right machines to make this chewy candy. They could even make it "kosher," which means it followed special food rules.

Classic Caramel Co.

In 2009, Warrell Corporation bought the Classic Caramel Co. This company used to be in Pennsylvania but had closed down. Warrell restarted it and called it the Warrell Classic Co. They continued to make 30 different kinds of caramel that were popular under the original Classic Caramel brand. However, the Warrell Classic Co. closed its doors in 2019.

Slo Poke, Black Cow, and Sophie Mae

In early 2013, Warrell Corporation sold three of its candy brands. These were Slo Poke, Black Cow, and Sophie Mae candies. They sold them to a company called Atkinson Candy Company, which is based in Texas. This meant Warrell no longer made these specific candies in Pennsylvania.

What Warrell Creations Can Do

Warrell Creations is all about helping other candy companies make new and exciting products.

Developing New Products

The team at Warrell Creations works closely with other companies' research and development (R&D) teams. They help find the best ingredients for new candies and snacks. They create first samples of new products by following a careful step-by-step process.

Making Different Treats

Warrell Creations has many ways to make snacks and candies. They can do "artisanal chocolate panning," which is like tumbling candies in chocolate to coat them perfectly. They also do "chocolate enrobing," where a stream of chocolate covers a treat. They can even fire roast nuts, giving them a special flavor.

Specialty Snacks

They can also co-manufacture, meaning they help make, special treats like nut cluster squares, crunchy brittle, and chewy toffee candy. They also make small snack bites. Warrell Creations uses modern packing machines to get all these delicious products ready for stores.

Warrell Corporation and Politics

Sometimes, companies get involved in politics, especially when laws might affect their business.

In 2013, representatives from Warrell Corporation announced they supported a bill from Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey. A "bill" is a proposed law. This bill aimed to change rules about sugar in the market. Another big candy company, The Hershey Company, also supported this idea.