Candy History, Nostalgic Candy Favorites

Candy History: Brach’s Chocolate Stars

December 12, 2013 by

Ask anyone on the street if they’ve ever heard of Brach’s candy and they’ll probably think of those infamous bulk bins in the grocery store. Or, they may sing you a little jingle, “Stop where you are, buy a Brach’s candy bar.” But do you know how it all began?

As it turns out, Brach’s is almost 110 years old, as the first store was opened all the way back in 1904. Brach’s was created by a German immigrant by the name of Emil J. Brach. And, believe it or not, the store in 1904 was his second attempt at starting a candy business. His first, in the late 1800s, was a complete failure.

brachs-stars-retro-adBrach’s Booms

The first Brach products were caramels, made in the back of the store and displayed at the front as a way to lure in customers. And lure them in it did! Between 1906 and 1913, the Chicago-based company had to move locations three times to keep up with expansion due to high demand.

It’s no surprise that they were so popular, too! Brach’s has always prided itself on quality, being the first candy company to institute what we might call quality control on candies coming off the line.

Star Quality

Back in the day, Brach shipped his candies by horse, car, mail, and train. So you could have your candies, no matter how near or far you were to the store. That dedication to customer satisfaction is one of the main reasons Brach’s has stayed in business for so long.

The Brachs kept the business in the family for a long time, too, only selling to a non-family buyer in 1966. But the change in ownership didn’t change anything about the taste! Those Chocolate Stars are still sure to be as good as you remember.

brachs-candy-companyToday, Brach’s abandoned factory has some film credit fame to its name, as it became Gotham Hospital in the 2008 movie, The Dark Knight. Cool, right? And since you can’t make delicious confections in a decaying building, you can rest assured knowing that your Brach’s candies are made safely in Texas by company Farley’s & Sathers.

Brach’s is truly a company for the ages. What started as a niche has exploded into a huge candy empire, reaching sweet tooths, everywhere.

Source Material:

  • http://americanurbex.com/wordpress/?p=779
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brach’s

Image Sources:

  • http://americanurbex.com/wordpress/?p=779

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6 Comments

  • Reply Richard Rossell December 22, 2015 at 12:50 pm

    The Brock candy company in tennessee had the radio jingle ad also shown in movie theatres. B-R-O-C-K, buy a brock today. It was a separate company and has nothing to do with Brach’s candy company from Chicago. I have a 35mm film clip of the ad showing a traffic cop blowing his whistle to stop traffic. I have no projecter. “Stop where you are, buy a brock candy bar, brock is a dandy bar, a nickle’s all you pay, b-r-o-c-k buy a brock today”

  • Reply Alicia G. July 12, 2016 at 4:08 pm

    Actually Ferrara Pan Candy company now owns Brach’s.

  • Reply Alicia G. July 12, 2016 at 4:10 pm

    Ferrara Pan Candy Company owns Brach’s now, and they are rejuvenating the brand and giving it new life with several additional products and new artwork.

  • Reply Steve Palmore November 18, 2019 at 9:15 pm

    I agree with Richard Rossell, the jingle cited in this article was BROCK candy bar not Brach’s.

  • Reply Maria Lennig July 14, 2022 at 12:51 pm

    Good I’d still good. Favs. To order.

  • Reply Adinl August 4, 2022 at 12:37 am

    I have been looking for the beach’s milk chocolate peanut clusters, I have been to Maine where I purchased them at a Walmart in Scarborough Maine,and now I have moved to Jacksonville Florida I went looking for them at a Walmart on Normandy and Lane I couldn’t find them I am wanting to know why and if you will be putting the peanut clusters back into the stores.I wet to Hampton Virginia and I went from different stores and Walmart I haven’t been able to find them I am so addicted to this candy I use to eat these peanut clusters when I was a kid it’s always been my favorite candy and I search every where to buy them no matter what state I visit I look for them.Its gotten so bad I take small trips just to go to different states to find this candy I am a 72 year old female I am still looking for the peanut clusters I have found some different brands of the candy but it’s not the branch’s clusters so do you think you could please start selling them in Jacksonville Florida at the Walmart on Normandy and lane I would so appreciate it. Thank You

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