COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 31134

Nonchocolate Confectionary Manufacturing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

25companies1868–2002founding years25still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedGuittard Chocolate Company
1868
FoundedIAWS Group plc
1897
FoundedPerfetti Van Melle S.p.A.
1900
FoundedThe Quaker Oats Company
1901
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedSpangler Candy Company
1906
FoundedMars, Incorporated
1911
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedBobs Candies, Inc.
1922
FoundedJust Born, Inc.
1923
FoundedGeneral Mills, Inc.
1928
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedStrauss-Elite Group
1934
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedChupa Chups S.A.
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedPez Candy, Inc.
1953
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedEvergreen International Aviation, Inc.
1960
FoundedArcor S.A.I.C.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedCadbury Schweppes PLC
1969
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedSherwood Brands, Inc.
1985
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedToymax International, Inc.
1990
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedAlpine Confections, Inc.
1999
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Guittard Chocolate Company →
Active · founded 1868
Guittard Chocolate Company is a leading manufacturer of chocolate for the confectionary, baking, and ice cream…
IAWS Group plc →
Active · founded 1897 · Ireland
From its late 19th-century origins in Ireland's cooperative movement, IAWS Group plc has grown into a leading food…
Perfetti Van Melle S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1900 · Italy
Perfetti Van Melle S.p.A.
Sweet Candy Company →
Active · founded 1900
In 1995, Sweet's built a 35,000-square-foot distribution center near the Salt Lake City International Airport.
The Quaker Oats Company →
Active · founded 1901
The product of a rocky union between three 19th-century millers, The Quaker Oats Company maintains a portfolio of…
Spangler Candy Company →
Active · founded 1906
The candies of the Spangler Candy Company have been household names in America for decades.
Mars, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1911
From its origins in candy and confectionary products, Mars, Incorporated has diversified to become a world leader in…
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company →
Active · founded 1919
With over 110 years of success under its belt, Wm.
Bobs Candies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1922
Bobs Candies, Inc., makes and distributes candies, ranking as the largest candy cane maker in the world.
Just Born, Inc. →
Active · founded 1923
Just Born, Inc.
Hershey Foods Corporation →
Active · founded 1927
Hershey Foods Corporation holds the top position in the U.S.
General Mills, Inc. →
Active · founded 1928
General Mills, Inc.
Strauss-Elite Group →
Active · founded 1934 · Israel
Merging two of Israel's oldest and largest food companies in 2004, the Strauss-Elite Group has become that country's…
Chupa Chups S.A. →
Active · founded 1946 · Spain
Spain's Chupa Chups S.A.
The Topps Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1947
The Topps Company, Inc.
Pez Candy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
Pez Candy, Inc.
Evergreen International Aviation, Inc. →
Active · founded 1960
The "airline's airline," Evergreen International Airlines, Inc.
Parmalat Finanziaria SpA →
Active · founded 1961 · Italy
Parma, Italy, is not only the home of fine Italian cheese and ham, but also Parmalat Finanziaria SpA, a diversified,…
Arcor S.A.I.C. →
Active · founded 1962 · Argentina
Life is sweet for Arcor S.A.I.C., the privately held firm that has grown to become one of Argentina's two biggest food…
Cadbury Schweppes PLC →
Active · founded 1969 · United Kingdom
Cadbury Schweppes PLC is one of the oldest and largest family-run businesses in the world today.
Sherwood Brands, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
Sherwood Brands, Inc.
Kraft Foods Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
Kraft Foods Inc.
Toymax International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1990
Toymax International, Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiaries and divisions, makes children's toys, leisure…
Alpine Confections, Inc. →
Active · founded 1999
Alpine Confections, Inc.
Farley's & Sathers Candy Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 2002
Farley's & Sathers Candy Company, Inc.
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