.png)
.webp)
D.L. Clark Company
Clark Bar was the first successful American “combination” candy bar, inspiring future candy bars like Butterfinger(1923) and 5th Avenue bar (1936).
1886
David L. Clark, an Irish immigrant, develops the base recipe for what would become the Clark Bar while living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1917
Clark Bar is officially introduced by David Clark, becoming the first American combo candy bar to achieve nationwide success.
The original formula features a crispy confection with ground peanuts around a caramel core, coated in milk chocolate. The original recipe takes advantage of a recently developed approach that allows for thin milk chocolate shells around a non-chocolate filling.
It is developed to be sent to troops during World War I, individually wrapped for ease of delivery.
Post-WWI
After the war ends, Clark Bar inspires other manufacturers to produce their own combination candy bars.
1911
D.L. Clark Company starts operating at the North Side Pittsburgh production facility. An illuminated oversized rooftop Clark Bar sign on the factory becomes a Pittsburgh landmark.
1929
The factory produces more than 900,000 candy bars daily—about 17,000 miles of Clark Bars laid end-to-end annually.
World War II
The company sends 1.5 million bars daily to the armed forces in WWII. When labor strikes lead to shortages, the federal government steps in, calling production “essential” to the war effort.
1965
The Clark Bar formulation has been modified to increase peanut butter content and enhance flavor. Other flavors are introduced, like mint, coconut and a crispy version.
1980s
The caramel center is removed to increase shelf life.
1995
An alternative recipe is briefly used, but is discontinued soon after.
1950s
The “I want a Clark Bar!” advertising campaign is launched, featuring a bunch of animals (giraffes, elephants, ostriches) in commercials.
1955
D.L. Clark Co. is acquired by Beatrice Foods, marking the end of decades of family ownership.
1983
The brand is sold to Leaf Candy Company.
1986
Production is moved from the historic North Side factory to a new facility in O’Hara Township (suburban Pittsburgh).
1990
Leaf announces plans to close the O’Hara facility and move production to the Chicago area.
Mid-1990s
Pittsburgh entrepreneur Michael Carlow purchases Leaf, combining it with Pittsburgh Brewing Company and other local businesses under the Pittsburgh Food & Beverage Company umbrella.
1995
Carlow is forced to relinquish control amid accusations of a check-kiting scheme; production of the Clark Bar ceases.
1995
Leaf forecloses on a $3 million loan and commenced making Clark Bars at Illinois facility with an altered recipe.
Clark’s assets are sold through bankruptcy court to newly-formed Clark Bar America, Inc., which restarts production at the O’Hara facility using a prior recipe.
1999
Clark Bar America shuttered; recipe and production equipment is bought at bankruptcy by New England Confectionery Company (NECCO) for $4.1 million.
1999-2018
Production of the Clark Bar is moved to NECCO’s Revere, Massachusetts facility.
2018
NECCO fails and is sold at bankruptcy court to Round Hill Investments LLC.
Round Hill sells NECCO assets and abruptly closes the Revere production facility, which discontinued Clark Bar.
2018
Spangler Candy Company acquires NECCO’s assets and then sells the Clark Bar rights to Boyer Candy Company. Altoona, Pennsylvania-based Boyer Candy Company (makers of Mallo Cup) had originally bid on Clark Bar in the 1990s.
Challenges with production machinery speed and reproducing the bar’s consistency and shape push back Clark Bar’s reintroduction.
2019
Boyer releases Clark Cups (chocolate and peanut butter crunch cups).
Later that year, Clark Bar is rereleased at a Boyer factory outlet.
2020
A Limited release of Clark Bar is sold at Pittsburgh-area stores.
Current Status
As of December 2021, Clark Bar production remains limited, with distribution only to Pittsburgh-area specialty candy stores.
Boyer Candy Company’s current marketing emphasizes: “YES, we still make Clark Bars. YES, they are amazing. YES, they sell out often.”
.webp)
.webp)