Chicago had an abundance of workers, who were knowledgable about candy manufacturing. German candy makers immigrated to the US and settled in the Chicago area. The city was a short distance from an excellent supply of corn syrup and sugar. Other ingredients could be shipped by rail (Chicago is the rail transportation hub of the nation) or by boat, via the Great Lakes or the Mississippi River.

Chicago still is the home of my favorite candy (because it is made in Chicago.) Tootsie Roll makes my favorite source of extra fat on my belly. As of matter of fact, I'm eating one right now. By the way, I hate the chocolate flavored Tootsie Pop. Tootsie Roll execs listen up: PLEASE STOP PLACING SO MANY CHOCOLATE FLAVORED TOOTSIE POPS IN EVERY BAG. At the very least, separate the different flavors. I know a lot of people love that flavor. Fill bags exclusively with chocolate flavored Tootsie Pops. Everybody will be happy, and the problem is solved.

Chicago was also the home of Curtis Candy Company the makers of Butterfinger and Baby Ruth.

Brach's candy factory was a huge complex on the west side of Chicago. The complex had been sitting vacant for many years without any serious plans for redevelopment. The owners of the vacant buildings were lucky. The producers of one of the Batman movies needed to blow up some buildings and they contacted the owners of the former Brach's candy factory. The candy factory played the part of Gotham City General Hospital. The magic of the movies - INCREDIBLE.

Even the founder of the Jelly Belly company started his candy empire in Chicago. The company still has a plant in the northern suburbs and a warehouse in southeastern Wisconsin.

Wrigley was headquartered in Chicago, prior to the merger with Mars. The iconic Wrigley building, located on Michigan Avenue is still used by the company. Even Mars had roots in the metro area of Chicago, many, many years ago.

Iconic candy manufacturers are bought by bigger companies, and they are constantly trying to show a higher quarterly profit. The need to show a short-term profit pushes the companies to move the manufacturing operations to a so-called cheaper location. A famous saying comes to mind when I think about these penny-pinching corporate excecs: PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH. That is a partial reason for the exodus of the candy manufacturing base from Chicago.

The city still has Tootsie Roll and a few smaller candy manufacturers, like Ferrara Pan candy  (makers of Lemonheads, Jaw Busters, Boston Baked Beans & Red Hots.)

Posted below, are a few magazine ads from old time Chicago candy manufacturers
















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