Categories: Food & Wine

Fun Facts About Brach’s Candy Company

Halloween is almost here and one of the most popular companies at this time of the year is Brach’s. Brach’s has been making candy for over 100 years. But where did it all begin? How did Brach’s Candy Company come to be one of the leading candy companies in America?

Fun Facts About Brach’s Candy Company #1: The First Brach’s Candy Store Opened in 1904

Emil J. Brach originally worked for another candy company in Chicago. While there he spent years saving up $15,000 to open his own candy factory. Unfortunately, the factory was a failure and he lost his entire savings. In 1904, Brach decided to try again and opened his first candy shop. This shop would prove to be a huge success.

Fun Facts About Brach’s Candy Company #2: The First Product Was Caramels

The first product available from Brach’s Candy Company was caramels. When this product was first made, it sold for an amazing $0.20 per pound. To this day, Brach’s Candy Company continues to make great caramels.

Fun Facts About Brach’s Candy Company #3: By 1909 Candy Production Rose to 2.5 Million Pounds

Another fun fact is that in only 5 years, Brach’s Candy Company was making 2.5 million pounds of candy per year. This meant that the company continuously had to move to bigger locations in order to have the room to prepare that much candy.

Fun Facts About Brach’s Candy Company #4: By 1923 100,000 Retailers Sold Brach’s Candy

With that much growth, Brach’s Candy Company realized that someone else would need to sell their candy. In fact, by 1923, 100,000 retailers were selling Brach’s Candy. This was only a small drop in the barrel as to what would happen in the future.

Fun Facts About Brach’s Candy Company #5: Several Candy Innovations

Brach’s Candy Company was the first candy company to offer barrels which would allow even more of their products to be sold. They also invented displays that would keep the products as fresh as possible. Later, they would also invent candy stations where the products could be mixed and weighed easily.

Fun Facts About Brach’s Candy Company #6: Was Making 90 Million Pounds of Candy by the End of the 1930s

In only a short amount of time since the Brach’s Candy Company first opened, Brach’s was making 90 million pounds of candy each year. That is a huge amount of growth for a company that started out in an 18 x 65 foot building

Fun Facts About Brach’s Candy Company #7: Over 500 Varieties Were Made in 1961

By 1961, Brach’s Candy Company would be making quite a few products. In fact, they would by making over 500 different varieties of candy. Can you imagine trying to continuously think of new varieties of candy after you already had 500 varieties?

Fun Facts About Brach’s Candy Company #8: One of America’s Leading Candy Companies

One last fun fact is that Brach’s Candy Company is one of America’s leading candy companies. You can now find Brach’s in just about any store you visit.