Leaf International
Leaf International was an international confectionery company whose businesses and brands were ultimately merged into Cloetta in 2012.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Leaf International was a confectionery company with roots in Chicago and a history spanning American candy manufacturing, European sweets, chewing gum, liquorice, pastilles, trading cards, and brand acquisitions. The business was founded by Sol S. Leaf in the 1940s and developed through a sequence of mergers, purchases, divestitures, and changes of ownership rather than through a single uninterrupted corporate structure. Among its early milestones was the introduction of Rain-Blo Bubble Gum by the Leaf Confectionery Company in 1940. In 1947, the Overland Candy Company, known for Whoppers malted milk balls, combined with the Chicago Biscuit Company, Leaf Confectionery Company, and Leaf Machinery to form Leaf Brands. The company also entered the collectibles market: in 1948 it issued its first baseball-card set, described as the first post-World War II color baseball-card set. Whoppers malted milk balls were reintroduced under the Leaf Brands umbrella in 1949. Leaf's portfolio expanded substantially over the following decades. In 1983 it acquired Jolly Rancher, while Huhtamäki Oyj acquired the Illinois Leaf Candy Company and combined it with Phoenix Candy, the producer of Now and Later, and another acquired confectionery business. Huhtamäki also acquired General Mills' Donruss trading-card division around the same period and brought it into the Leaf organization. Further additions included confectionery brands obtained from Beatrice Foods in 1986, Hollywood Brands in 1988, and the Heath bar in 1989. These transactions gave Leaf a broad North American presence across gum, chocolate, non-chocolate candy, and trading cards. The North American business was sold to Hershey Foods Corporation in 1996. Leaf manufacturing and sales were subsequently integrated into Hershey's existing operations, effectively ending Leaf as a distinct operating unit in the United States. The European and Asian business was sold by Huhtamäki to CSM in 1999. CSM combined Leaf brands such as Läkerol, Jenkki, and Sportlife with its existing confectionery portfolio, which included Malaco, Red Band, and Venco. CSM later strengthened the business through acquisitions in Continental Europe, including Continental Sweets in 2000 and Italy-based Socalbe in 2001. In 2005, CSM sold its confectionery division to CVC Capital Partners and Nordic Capital. The new owners restored the Leaf name and operated the business as an international confectionery group. Leaf subsequently acquired Cadbury's Italian business, including Saila, in 2007 and acquired Leaf Holland B.V. in May 2010. By the end of this period, the company was an established European confectionery operator with manufacturing and commercial activities in several countries and a portfolio spanning gum, pastilles, liquorice, mints, chocolate, nougat, sweeteners, and chewy candy. Leaf's final corporate transition came through its merger with Swedish confectionery company Cloetta. The transaction was announced in December 2011 and completed in February 2012. Following the merger, the Leaf name was dropped as the operating company was combined with Cloetta. Many of the brands and product activities associated with Leaf continued within the enlarged confectionery group, but Leaf International ceased to exist as an independent corporate entity.
History
Leaf International grew from an American confectionery business founded by Sol S. Leaf in Chicago during the 1940s. Its early corporate history involved the combination of several food and confectionery operations. In 1940, the Leaf Confectionery Company introduced Rain-Blo Bubble Gum. In 1947, the Overland Candy Company merged with the Chicago Biscuit Company, Leaf Confectionery Company, and Leaf Machinery to create Leaf Brands. This structure brought the Whoppers malted milk-ball business into the Leaf portfolio. Leaf reintroduced Whoppers Malted Milk Balls in 1949. Leaf also had an important connection with sports collectibles. In 1948, it issued its first baseball-card set, regarded in the reference material as the first post-World War II color baseball-card set. The trading-card operation later became associated with Donruss after Huhtamäki acquired General Mills' Donruss division in the 1980s. During the 1960s, Whoppers and other Leaf-manufactured products were acquired by W. R. Grace and Company. Those products were sold back in 1976. Leaf then entered a period of significant expansion and corporate restructuring. In 1983, Leaf acquired Jolly Rancher. That same year, Huhtamäki Oyj of Finland purchased the Illinois Leaf Candy Company and combined it with Phoenix Candy, maker of Now and Later, and another acquired candy company under the Leaf name. Huhtamäki's acquisition of Donruss added a trading-card division to the broader business. Leaf continued building its confectionery portfolio in the second half of the 1980s. It purchased selected brands from Beatrice Foods in 1986, including the business associated with Milk Duds. In 1988, Huhtamäki bought Hollywood Brands from Sara Lee, bringing Payday and Zero into the Leaf organization. Leaf acquired the Heath bar in 1989. By the 1990s, the company was among the leading confectionery producers internationally and had particular strength in non-chocolate products such as chewing gum, pastilles, and liquorice. Reference material describes Leaf as the fourth-largest candy producer in North America by 1993. The corporate structure changed again in 1996 when Hershey Foods Corporation acquired Leaf's North American confectionery operations. Those activities were gradually integrated into Hershey's existing manufacturing and sales organization, ending Leaf's independent operating presence in the United States. In 1999, Huhtamäki sold the European and Asian business to Dutch company CSM. CSM placed brands such as Läkerol, Jenkki, and Sportlife alongside its Malaco, Red Band, and Venco confectionery brands. CSM expanded this division through the 2000 acquisition of Continental Sweets and the 2001 acquisition of Italy-based Socalbe, whose brands included Dietorelle and Dietor. In 2005, CSM sold the confectionery division to CVC Capital Partners and Nordic Capital. The private-equity owners restored the Leaf name and continued operating the company as an international confectionery group. Leaf acquired Cadbury Italy, including Saila, in 2007 and acquired Leaf Holland B.V. in May 2010. The company operated across multiple countries with a portfolio covering gum, pastilles, liquorice, mints, chocolate, nougat, sweeteners, and chewy products. Leaf's final major corporate event was its combination with Cloetta. The merger was announced in December 2011 and completed in February 2012. The Leaf name was dropped after the transaction, ending Leaf International as a separate company while transferring its brands and operations into the enlarged Cloetta confectionery organization.
- 2012
Merger with Cloetta completed
[1]Leaf merged with Cloetta in February, after which the Leaf name was discontinued.
- 2005
Leaf name restored under new ownership
[1]CVC Capital Partners and Nordic Capital acquired the confectionery division from CSM and restored the Leaf identity.
- 1996
North American operations sold to Hershey
[1]Hershey acquired Leaf's North American confectionery operations and subsequently integrated them into its own business.
- 1983
Jolly Rancher acquired
[1]Leaf acquired the Jolly Rancher confectionery brand.
- 1948
First Leaf baseball-card set issued
[1]Leaf released its first baseball-card set, identified in the reference material as the first postwar color set.
- 1947
Leaf Brands formed through merger
[1]Overland Candy Company merged with Chicago Biscuit Company, Leaf Confectionery Company, and Leaf Machinery to form Leaf Brands.
- 1940
Rain-Blo Bubble Gum introduced
[1]The Leaf Confectionery Company introduced Rain-Blo Bubble Gum, one of the company's earliest named confectionery products.
Products and positioning
A diversified confectionery group built through acquisitions and portfolio management, with particular strength in chewing gum, pastilles, liquorice, mints, and other non-chocolate sweets, alongside a historically notable trading-card business.
Chewing gum · 1940
Rain-Blo Bubble Gum
Rain-Blo Bubble Gum was introduced by the Leaf Confectionery Company in 1940. It represents one of the company's earliest documented branded products and reflects Leaf's long-standing emphasis on gum and other non-chocolate confectionery.
Chocolate confectionery
Whoppers Malted Milk Balls
Whoppers are malted milk balls associated with Overland Candy and later incorporated into the Leaf Brands portfolio. Leaf reintroduced the product in 1949. The brand later changed ownership and is not evidence of a currently independent Leaf product line.
Hard candy
Jolly Rancher
Jolly Rancher became part of Leaf through a 1983 acquisition. Its addition broadened Leaf's North American presence in fruit-flavored hard candy and related sweets.
Pastilles
Läkerol
Läkerol was among the established European brands associated with Leaf's European and Asian business. The pastille brand was transferred to CSM in 1999 and later became part of the business developed after Leaf's corporate restructuring.
Chewing gum
Jenkki
Jenkki was a chewing-gum brand included in Leaf's European and Asian portfolio. It moved to CSM in the 1999 sale of that business.
Chewing gum
Sportlife
Sportlife was part of Leaf's European gum portfolio and was transferred to CSM with the European and Asian confectionery operations in 1999.
Liquorice and confectionery
Saila
Saila entered Leaf's portfolio when Leaf acquired Cadbury Italy in 2007. The acquisition strengthened Leaf's position in the Italian confectionery market.
Trading cards
Donruss baseball cards
Leaf's trading-card activities included the Donruss division after Huhtamäki acquired it from General Mills in the 1980s. This business connected Leaf to baseball cards and sports collectibles in addition to confectionery.
Brand decisions
2012
Merger with CloettaM&ABackground
Leaf and Swedish confectionery company Cloetta announced a combination in December 2011 to create a larger confectionery group.
Action taken
The merger was completed in February 2012.
Aftermath
The Leaf name was dropped and the company ceased to exist as an independent corporate entity within the combined Cloetta business.
2005
Acquisition of CSM confectionery division by private equity ownersM&ABackground
CSM decided to sell its confectionery division after building it with former Leaf assets and further European acquisitions.
Action taken
CVC Capital Partners and Nordic Capital acquired the division and restored the Leaf name.
Aftermath
Leaf resumed operations as an independent international confectionery company and continued expanding through acquisitions.
1999
Sale of European and Asian business to CSMM&ABackground
Following the North American divestiture, Huhtamäki restructured the remaining international confectionery assets.
Action taken
The European and Asian business, including brands such as Läkerol, Jenkki, and Sportlife, was sold to CSM.
Aftermath
The brands were combined with CSM's existing confectionery portfolio and later expanded through additional European acquisitions.
1996
Sale of North American confectionery operations to HersheyM&ABackground
Leaf's North American confectionery business was separated from the broader international portfolio during a period of corporate restructuring.
Action taken
Hershey Foods Corporation acquired the North American operations and integrated them into its existing manufacturing and sales organization.
Aftermath
Leaf ceased to operate as a distinct business unit in the United States, although some associated brands continued under new ownership.
Sources1 sources
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