Brach's
American confectionery brand known for caramels, candy corn, seasonal sweets, and bulk candy.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Brach's is an American confectionery brand that originated in Chicago in 1904 when Emil J. Brach opened a candy shop called Brach's Palace of Sweets. Working with his sons Edwin and Frank, Brach invested in manufacturing equipment that lowered production costs and allowed the business to sell candy at prices substantially below those of many competitors. The company expanded rapidly: by 1911, weekly production had reached approximately 50,000 pounds, and by the early 1920s Brach's was consolidating its operations in a large factory on West Kinzie Street in Chicago. The Kinzie plant became the physical and symbolic center of the business. By 1923, the company had consolidated production there and was making more than 100 varieties of candy. The facility was repeatedly expanded with specialized chocolate-grinding, panning, and other manufacturing equipment. A 1948 industrial accident, in which an electrical spark ignited cornstarch and caused a major explosion, killed 11 employees and injured 18. The factory was subsequently rebuilt and expanded. At its height, the complex was regarded as one of the world's largest candy-manufacturing facilities and employed several thousand people. Brach's initially produced products including caramels, candy bars, nougat, and other chocolate and sugar confections. After World War II, its business increasingly emphasized bulk and bagged candy, a shift that aligned with the growth of supermarket shopping and the popularity of Halloween trick-or-treating. In 1958, the company introduced Pick-A-Mix, allowing shoppers to select different candies from bulk containers and pay by weight. The format modernized the traditional general-store candy barrel for supermarkets and became one of the brand's most recognizable retail concepts. The company changed ownership several times during the second half of the twentieth century. American Home Products acquired Brach's in 1966. Under that ownership, the business became a major U.S. supplier of bagged candy. Klaus Jacobs purchased the company in 1987, but the following years brought falling sales, operating losses, leadership turnover, product-line reductions, and the loss of important retail customers. The business was later associated with Jacobs Suchard and then with the Brach and Brock Candy Company after the 1994 acquisition of Brock Candy. Barry Callebaut acquired the combined confectionery business in 2003. In 2007, Brach's was sold to Farley's & Sathers Candy Company. Farley's & Sathers subsequently merged with Ferrara Pan Candy Company in 2012, creating Ferrara Candy Company, which became the brand's corporate home. The original Chicago factory was abandoned in 2003; parts of the complex were later demolished, and the site is no longer the brand's manufacturing base. Today, Brach's is primarily positioned as a traditional American candy brand with strong associations with seasonal occasions and familiar, nostalgic formats. Its portfolio includes candy corn, conversation hearts marketed as Sweethearts, jelly beans, chewy nougats, caramels, mints, chocolate-covered candies, and other sugar confections. Many offerings are distributed through mass retailers and are especially visible around Halloween, Valentine's Day, Easter, and Christmas. Product availability and flavors vary by season and market.
History
Brach's began in 1904 when Emil J. Brach invested his savings in a Chicago candy storefront named Brach's Palace of Sweets. His sons Edwin and Frank joined the business. From the beginning, the company treated manufacturing efficiency as a competitive advantage: investment in equipment enabled Brach's to produce candy at lower cost and sell it more cheaply than many neighborhood competitors. Production grew to roughly 50,000 pounds per week by 1911. Expansion led to a large consolidated factory on West Kinzie Street. Construction began in the early 1920s, and by 1923 Brach's had moved production into the facility, which made 127 varieties of candy and had annual capacity of more than two million pounds. The site expanded over subsequent decades, adding chocolate-processing and candy-panning capabilities. It became a major Chicago industrial landmark and, at its peak, employed approximately 4,500 people. In 1948, cornstarch in the factory was ignited by an electrical spark. The resulting explosion killed 11 employees and injured 18, destroying a substantial portion of the plant's north side. Reconstruction increased the site's production capacity to more than four million pounds annually. The company continued to develop a broad confectionery portfolio, including caramels, candy bars, nougat, chocolate products, and sugar candies. The postwar period brought a strategic emphasis on bulk and packaged candy. As supermarkets expanded and Halloween trick-or-treating became more common, Brach's promoted bagged and seasonal products, especially candy corn. In 1958, it introduced Pick-A-Mix, a bulk-selling format that let shoppers combine different sweets from store containers and pay a single price by weight. This concept translated the old general-store candy barrel into a modern supermarket setting and helped reinforce Brach's identity as an everyday, accessible candy brand. American Home Products bought Brach's in 1966. By the mid-1980s, the company had become a substantial force in U.S. bagged candy. Klaus Jacobs acquired it in 1987, after which the business experienced serious difficulties. Management reorganized the company, changed its corporate name to Jacobs Suchard Inc., reduced the number of product lines, and replaced or dismissed many senior sales, marketing, production, and finance personnel. These moves weakened retailer relationships and contributed to declining sales and market share. The company also moved its headquarters away from the Kinzie factory site in 1994 and eliminated a large number of jobs. Jacobs later acquired Brock Candy Company in 1994. The combined business operated first as Brach and Brock Candy Company and later as Brach's Confections. Barry Callebaut acquired the company in 2003. The Kinzie plant was abandoned that year as manufacturing shifted primarily to Mexico. An administrative building was used in 2007 for filming of The Dark Knight, and the remaining complex was demolished in 2014. In 2007, Farley's & Sathers Candy Company acquired Brach's. Farley's & Sathers then combined with Ferrara Pan Candy Company in 2012 to create Ferrara Candy Company. Under Ferrara, Brach's continues as a recognizable American candy brand. Its modern identity is built around nostalgic and seasonal products, including candy corn for Halloween, conversation hearts for Valentine's Day, jelly beans and chocolate eggs for Easter, and chewy nougats and other candies for winter holidays. The brand also retains year-round products such as caramels, mints, lemon drops, spice drops, and chocolate confections.
- 2012
Becomes part of Ferrara Candy Company
[1]Farley's & Sathers combined with Ferrara Pan Candy Company, placing Brach's within Ferrara Candy Company.
- 2007
Acquired by Farley's & Sathers
[1]Brach's joined Farley's & Sathers Candy Company.
- 2003
Barry Callebaut acquisition and Chicago plant abandonment
[1]Barry Callebaut acquired the business, while production moved primarily to Mexico and the historic Chicago plant was abandoned.
- 1994
Brock Candy acquisition
[1]Brach's acquired Brock Candy Company and formed a combined confectionery business.
- 1987
Acquired by Klaus Jacobs
[1]The acquisition began a difficult restructuring period involving leadership changes and substantial product rationalization.
- 1966
Acquired by American Home Products
[1]Brach's entered the American Home Products portfolio.
- 1958
Pick-A-Mix introduced
[1]The company introduced a bulk-candy shopping format in which customers selected assorted products and paid by weight.
- 1948
Factory explosion
[1]A cornstarch explosion killed 11 employees and injured 18; the plant was subsequently rebuilt and enlarged.
- 1923
West Kinzie Street factory consolidates production
[1]Brach's consolidated manufacturing in a major Chicago facility producing more than 100 candy varieties.
- 1911
Production reaches approximately 50,000 pounds per week
[1]Early investment in manufacturing equipment helped the young company scale production and compete on price.
Products and positioning
A heritage American candy brand centered on accessible, familiar confectionery, bulk-candy traditions, and highly seasonal products.
Seasonal sugar candy
Candy corn
Brach's candy corn is a signature Halloween product and one of the brand's most prominent seasonal offerings. It is also sold outside the Halloween period when available. Variants have included traditional candy corn as well as flavors such as pumpkin spice, s'mores, and caramel.
Seasonal sugar candy
Sweethearts Conversation Hearts
These small, heart-shaped candies are associated with Valentine's Day and carry short printed messages such as romantic or conversational phrases. The line has expanded into different sizes and themed formats, including alphabet and emoticon-inspired versions.
Jelly candy
Original Jelly Beans
Brach's jelly beans are especially associated with the Easter season. The portfolio has included original mixed flavors along with spiced, speckled, orchard-fruit, and sour varieties, as well as different bean sizes.
Nougat candy
Chewy Nougats
Brach's chewy nougats are soft, flavored confectionery pieces sold mainly as seasonal products. Reported flavors have included peppermint, wintergreen, cinnamon, candy corn, and ice cream-inspired varieties, with the assortment changing by holiday and year.
Caramel candy · 1904
Caramels and Caramel Royals
Caramels were among Brach's earliest products and remain a central part of its brand heritage. The broader caramel range includes individually wrapped pieces and products such as Caramel Royals, supporting the company's long-standing association with affordable, familiar candy.
Chocolate candy
Chocolate confections
Brach's chocolate assortment has included malt balls, double-dipped peanuts, chocolate stars, almond products, and bridge mix. Some products are adapted for holidays, such as speckled or pastel candy-coated malted milk eggs for Easter.
Mint candy
Star Brite Mints
Star Brite Mints are a year-round hard-candy offering within Brach's traditional everyday portfolio. They represent the brand's continuing presence beyond holiday confectionery and complement products such as lemon drops, spice drops, and other classic candies.
Retail format · 1958
Pick-A-Mix
Introduced in 1958, Pick-A-Mix was a bulk-candy retail concept rather than a single confection. Shoppers selected pieces from multiple containers and paid one price per pound. It adapted the traditional general-store candy barrel to the supermarket environment and became a defining part of Brach's retail history.
Brand decisions
2003
Move production primarily to MexicoStrategyBackground
New ownership took control of the confectionery business while the historic Chicago manufacturing operation was no longer maintained.
Action taken
The Kinzie Street plant was abandoned and production shifted primarily to Mexico.
Aftermath
The Chicago factory ceased to serve as the brand's main production base; the complex was later partially used for filming and ultimately demolished.
1994
Combine with Brock Candy CompanyM&ABackground
Brach's pursued a combination with Brock Candy after an earlier attempt had been abandoned because of antitrust concerns.
Action taken
Klaus Jacobs acquired Brock Candy Company, creating a combined business that initially used the Brach and Brock Candy Company name.
Aftermath
The combined company was later known as Brach's Confections and was eventually acquired by Barry Callebaut.
1987
Restructure after Klaus Jacobs acquisitionStrategyBackground
The new ownership sought to reduce costs and reorganize the business during a period of changing retail and candy-market conditions.
Action taken
Management reduced the product range, changed the corporate name to Jacobs Suchard Inc., and replaced or dismissed personnel across major operating functions.
Aftermath
The restructuring coincided with declining sales, operating losses, retailer dissatisfaction, loss of market share, and substantial employee turnover.
Reported annual sales. $640 million → $470 million (1986 to 1989)
1958
Introduce the Pick-A-Mix bulk-candy formatStrategyBackground
Traditional bulk candy was associated with older general stores, while supermarkets were becoming a dominant retail channel.
Action taken
Brach's introduced a self-selection format in which shoppers chose assorted candies from bulk containers and paid by weight.
Aftermath
The format helped carry the bulk-candy tradition into modern supermarkets and became closely associated with the Brach's brand.
Recent events
- 2012
Farley's & Sathers and Ferrara Pan combine to form Ferrara Candy Company[1]
M&A
The combination placed Brach's within Ferrara Candy Company, its current corporate home.
- 2007
Brach's sold to Farley's & Sathers Candy Company[1]
M&A
Brach's became part of Farley's & Sathers Candy Company.
- 2003
Barry Callebaut acquires Brach's confectionery business[1]
M&A
Barry Callebaut acquired the combined Brach's business and assumed debt and restructuring obligations as part of the transaction.
- 2003
Brach's production moves primarily to Mexico after Chicago plant closure[1]
Other
The historic Kinzie Street factory was abandoned after new ownership took over operations, with production moving primarily to Mexico.
- 1994
Brach's acquires Brock Candy Company[1]
M&A
Brach's acquired Chattanooga-based Brock Candy Company. The combined business initially operated under the Brach and Brock Candy Company name and was later known as Brach's Confections.
- 1987
Klaus Jacobs purchases Brach's[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Klaus Jacobs acquired the company. The subsequent ownership period was marked by restructuring, leadership turnover, reduced product variety, declining sales, and losses.
- 1966
American Home Products acquires Brach's[1]
M&A
American Home Products purchased Brach's, beginning a period in which the candy business became a major U.S. supplier of bagged confectionery.
- 1948
Brach's Kinzie Street factory explosion kills 11 employees[1]
Other
An electrical spark ignited cornstarch at the Chicago factory, causing a major explosion that killed 11 employees and injured 18. The plant was later reconstructed and expanded.
Sources1 sources
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