Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?

Many of us have fond memories of going to a five-and-dime or general store as children and picking out our favorite penny candy. Though the stores are gone or replaced by chains, penny candy still exists, although it may cost you a bit more than a penny apiece.

History

During the Industrial Revolution, a number of advances in manufacturing were made, including in the food industry. Lower costs of transportation, improved packaging, the discovery of sugar beet juice and a new wave of entrepreneurs made cheap confections available to the mass market. These confections, commonly known as penny candy, were sold by the piece, making them affordable treats for most children. According to the National Confectioners Association, more than 380 American factories were producing candy, most of it penny candy, by the mid- to late 1800s. Some candies popular to this day emerged at this time. For example, candy corn was invented by an employee of the Wunderlee Candy Co. in the 1880s, and Milton Hershey began manufacturing his first chocolate bars in 1894.

Traditional Penny Candy

Many traditional penny candies have a colorful history. Some of the oldest penny candy brands include Tootsie Rolls, which were named after inventor Leo Hirshfield's daughter Clara, whose nickname was Tootsie. Tootsie Rolls were the first individually wrapped candy and were sold for one penny each beginning in 1896. Cracker Jack was sold for the first time that same year, although the famous toy prize wasn't added until 1912. NECCO introduced conversation hearts, then called "Sweet Hearts," in 1900. Hershey's Kisses emerged in 1907, but didn't get their paper "flags" until 1921. The Charleston Chew was named for a dance popular in the year it was first sold--1922. Bit-O-Honey appeared on the market two years later; it was similar to Mary Jane candies, which emerged in 1914. The first PEZ candies were mints manufactured by Haas Food Manufacturing Corp. in Vienna, Austria, in 1927. The name PEZ derives from the German for peppermint--PfeffErminZ. PEZ candies were originally sold in metal boxes; the plastic dispensers were introduced in 1955.

Modern Penny Candy

Today, the name penny candy still denotes candy sold by the piece or in bulk, but the price has increased along with inflation and manufacturing costs. Newer penny candies include Gobstoppers (known as Jawbreakers in the United States), Sour Patch Kids and Pop Rocks. Jelly beans in exotic flavors, such as pina colada, have also become popular, thanks to gourmet brands such as Jelly Belly. Candies that emerged in the mid-20th century include Jolly Rancher (1949), Hot Tamales (1950), Atomic Fireballs (1954), Lemonheads (1962) and SweeTARTS (1963).

Buying Penny Candy in Stores

Many larger grocery stores have a bulk-foods section with popular penny candy brands. Some shopping malls also have bulk candy stores, such as Candy! Candy! in the Mall of America. Stand-alone candy stores exist in some towns, such as Dylan's Candy Bar in New York City and Ricky's Candy, Cones & Chaos in the Northeast.

Buying Penny Candy Online

For hard-to-find brands or regional favorites, online shopping may be the best bet. See Resources for a few online shops that specialize in penny candy. Here you can find everything from Mary Janes to candy cigarettes, Boston Baked Beans to Squirrel Nut Caramels, Lemonheads to Atomic Fireballs.

References

• The Food Timeline
• Candy: The Sweet History
• National Confectioners Association

Resources

• Old Time Candy
• The Candy Baron
• The Penny Candy Store