Bob’s Candy Canes: The Rich History Of A Christmas Tradition

We’re a family business here at The Blair Candy Company, and we’re proud of our long tradition of supplying our loyal customers with the candy brands they loved as a kid – and still love as an adult! Bob’s Candy Canes is a Christmas tradition, and like us, they have a rich history that we just love to tell. Grab a cup of hot cocoa, a comfy chair, and a Bob’s candy cane while we treat you to the story of how a famous candy company came to be!

A Candylicious Beginning

Bob’s Candies started out as McCormack’s Famous Candy Company in 1919, founded by Bob McCormack. The company saw success selling coconut, peanut stick, hard candy, and taffy candies, and the boxes came emblazoned with “BOBS” on the front, and the iconic slogan, “I am Pure and Sweet.” There may have been sugar shortages during WWI, but Bob’s saw no shortage of candy success!

A Sweet Transition

McCormack’s Famous Candy Company was growing faster than ever before, and Bob Mills stepped in to help with administration. Together, Bob McCormack and Mills bought out the other investors, and in 1924, renamed the company Bobs Candy Company – creators of the Bob’s candy canes we know and love today! The Great Depression brought an end to many companies, but the strength and perseverance of Bob’s helped the company stay in business, and eventually expanded to salted peanuts, peanut candies, peanut brittle, and more. Then, in February of 1940, a tornado tragically leveled the Bobs Candy Company.

Rise From The Ruins

With no tornado insurance, Bobs started from scratch, and within a short six months, Bobs was back up and running. With WWII candy rations taking hold, the company began vacuum packing its candy to help it stay on the shelves longer – just like the Bob’s candy canes we enjoy today. The candy innovators also introduced attractive in-store supermarket advertising to entice customers to buy, and business picked up more and more. Finally, towards the end of the 1950s, the company was creating half a million Bob’s candy canes every day, with $3.3 million in annual sales. Today, Farley’s & Sathers Candy Company owns Bobs Candy Company, but the spirit of its strong founders continues to live on – and Bob’s Candy Canes continue to be a cherished holiday tradition.