If you are reading this, you know that at CandyFavorites.com, we like candy history almost as much as we enjoy eating candy....
Perhaps it is because we have been around long before retro candy was considered "retro," or maybe it is because we like doing things differently.
For whatever reason, the history of candy deserves pride of place, and that's why we were drawn to Bun Bars as much as a subject for an article as it is a favorite for the company snack drawer!
In today's day and age, when candy comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and flavors, it is hard to believe that Bun Bars were controversial.
In the 1920s - the exact date lost to the annals of history - this roasted caramel, marshmallow crème, peanuts, and a coating of chocolate was introduced in a round shape, a first for the industry.
While other candies strove for uniformity, these candy bars - or perhaps candy ovals - were slightly irregular in shape. It was like wearing a blue blazer with blue jeans. It may not be the expected look, but it worked well nevertheless!
The original concept came from the George Wiliamson Company, which was located in Chicago, the hub of the candy industry in the United States.
This company's claim to fame was that they invented the O'Henry Bar, which, ironically - or perhaps not so much so - had similar ingredients to what would become the Bun Bar.
It took about twenty years for the name to change to BUN, and that was in 1947, when the Wayne Bun Company, located in Indiana, offered the first "official" BUN flavor - Vanilla Cream.
Much like Henry VIII and his wives, Bun Bars has many owners, including Leaf Confections, the Curtiss Candy Company, and Nabisco, but that's not all.
The brand was briefly sold to a German Company and then to Pittsburgh Food & Beverage, whose corporate office was located only a few miles from the wholesale candy warehouse where we have operated from since 1927!
It is important to note that the candy bars were still produced in Indiana until production ceased.
The journey continued as Pittsburgh Food & Beverage, which owned Wayne Candies, went bankrupt - a story unto itself - and then the brand was sold to Clark Bar America, who actually manufactured these odd round candies just a few miles from our warehouse!
Just when you thought this candy bar would enjoy a bit of stability, the brand was sold to Pearson's, located in Minnesota, in 1998.
This merger might be considered a marriage of convenience because the manufacturing process was very similar to Nut Goodies. Still, it worked as the candy bar has been around for over 100 years!
While they may not be a best seller like Reese or Snickers, thanks to foresight and perseverance, these irregularly shaped candy bars have developed a "cult following," allowing them to get a much deserved place in American Candy History and a brief mention in our Let's Learn About Candy section.
