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© History Oasis
From Italian immigrant selling candy-coated almonds to running a global confectionery empire, Salvatore Ferrara created a candy company that spans more than 115 years of candy innovation.
1900
Salvatore Ferrara emigrates from Nola, Italy, to New York. Ferrara comes from a family of professional bakers in Italy. A background that will be crucial to building his candy empire.
1908
Ferrara opens a bakery at 772 W. Taylor Street in Chicago's "Little Italy" neighborhood with his brother-in-law, Salvatore"Sal" Lezza. The bakery focuses on pastries, wedding cakes, and candy-coated almonds (known as "confetti" or Jordan almonds). The two business partners later split so that Ferrara can focus solely on the candy side of the business.
1919
Ferrara builds a 15,000-square-foot factory at 2200 W. Taylor Street in Chicago. The two-story brick building features revolving kettles on the second floor for pan candy production, all powered by a giant wheel.
The factory produces its first branded candy, jawbreakers (later rebranded as "Jaw Busters - The Original Jawbreaker").
1921
Ferrara forms an official partnership with his brothers-in-law, Salvatore Buffardi and Anello Pagano. They name the company "Ferrara Candy Company."
1932
Red Hots are introduced. These are small cinnamon-flavored hard candies. Red Hots are the company’s first market success.
1935
The company introduces five and ten-cent packaging with new machine technology.
1940s
World War II creates an opportunity for Ferrara. While larger companies like Hershey and Mars send most of their candy to the military, Ferrara thrives in the domestic market.
1946
Super Bubble gum is launched. This bubble gum comes in four flavors: original, grape, apple, and watermelon.
Atomic Fireball invented by Nello Ferrara, son of Salvatore. Atomic Fireball is a round, cinnamon-flavored hard candy. Kind of like a mix of a jawbreaker and Red Hots. The idea came to Nello after serving in post-atomic-bomb Occupied Japan.
1962
Lemonheads are named after Nello Ferrara’s newborn son Salvatore II, whose head shape reminded the family of a lemon.
1970s
Alexander the Grape, Johnny Apple Treats, and Cherry Clan are created. These flavors are sold as standalone products before merging into the "heads" family under Lemonheads in the 1990s. With Mr. Melon added in 1986.
1980s
Black Forest brand added to the portfolio. The brand brings premium and juicy gummies to Ferrara’s offerings.
2012
Catterton Partners arranges merger between Ferrara Pan Candy Company and Farley's & Sathers Candy Company. The combined company adopted the name "Ferrara Candy Company" under CEO Salvatore Ferrara II.
The merger brings iconic brands, including Brach's, Chuckles, Jujyfruits, Now and Later, and Trolli gummies.
2018
Ferrara takes over Nestlé's U.S. candy business after Ferrero purchased the line for $2.8 billion. New brands include Butterfinger, Crunch, Baby Ruth, Raisinets, Nips, Laffy Taffy, Spree, and Everlasting Gobstopper (formerly Wonka products).
2023
Ferrara acquires Dori Alimentos, the second-largest sweets and snacks manufacturer in Brazil.
Ferrara acquires Jelly Belly Candy Company, adding its beloved jelly beans to its mix.
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