The History of Penny Candy

It was these small sugar candies, individually wrapped and sold, that would become popularly known as Penny Candy in the United States. By definition now, Penny Candy is the name for any of the wide variety of different individually wrapped and sold candy that has a history of over 50 years. The penny in the name penny candy refers to the fact originally the pricing was approximately a penny per piece though much of the candy was sold in bulk by the pound rather than the piece. 

Popular Penny Candy

The first individually wrapped and sold Penny Candy came with the 1896 introduction of the Tootsie Roll. Following closely on the heels of the Tootsie Roll was the Sweethearts which were introduced by the Civil War candy company Necco Wafers. Chocolate Candies entered the Penny Candy market with the advent of Hershey’s Kisses in 1907. Other popular penny candies introduced over the years included: bottle caps, licorice, candy corn, bubble gum, jawbreakers and licorice. Although not a penny candy there was some resurgence in the bulk confectionery market with the sell by pound 48 flavor Jelly Bellies.

Candy Press

In 1847, the invention of the candy press  (also known as a toy machine) made it possible to produce multiple shapes and sizes of candy at once. In 1851, confectioners began to use a revolving steam pan to assist in boiling sugar. This transformation meant that the candy maker was no longer required to continuously stir the boiling sugar. The heat from the surface of the pan was also much more evenly distributed and made it less likely the sugar would burn. These innovations made it possible for only one or two people to successfully run a candy business.

1830

The candy business underwent a drastic change in the 1830s when technological advances and the availability of sugar opened up the market. The new market was not only for the enjoyment of the rich but also for the pleasure of the working class. There was also an increasing market for children. While some fine confectioners remained, the candy store  became a staple of the child of the American working class. Penny candies epitomized this transformation of candy. Penny candy became the first material good that children spent their own money on. For this reason, candy store-owners relied almost entirely on the business of children to keep them running. Even penny candies were directly descended from medicated lozenges that held bitter medicine in a hard sugar coating.

History

Prior to the 1900s, candy was commonly sold unwrapped from carts in the street, where it was exposed to dirt and insects. By 1914, there were some machines to wrap gum and stick candies, but this was not the common practice. After the polio outbreak in 1916, unwrapped candies garnered widespread censure because of the dirt and germs. At the time, only upscale candy stores used glass jars. With advancements in technology, wax paper was adopted, and foil and cellophane were imported from France by DuPont in 1925. Necco packagers were one of the first companies to package without human touch.

See Some Examples