Tootsie Roll Industries
Encyclopedia
Tootsie Roll Industries is a manufacturer of confectionery
in the United States
. Its best-known products have been Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Pops.
In 1896 its founder Leo Hirshfield, an Austria
n immigrant to the United States, started his candy business in a small shop located in New York City
. He decided he wanted a chocolate-tasting candy that would not melt in the heat, and that would be an economical artificial alternative to traditional chocolates. He named the candy after the nickname of his daughter, Clara "Tootsie" Hirshfield. By 1905, production moved to a five-story factory. In 1917 the name of the company was changed to The Sweets Company of America. The business became a listed company in 1922. In 1931 the Tootsie Pop — a hard-candy lollipop with Tootsie Roll filling — was invented, and quickly became popular with Dust Bowl
refugees during the Depression era because of its low price. During World War II
, Tootsie Rolls became a standard part of American soldiers' field rations, due to the hardiness of the candy under a variety of environmental conditions.
In 1935 the company was in serious difficulty. Its principal supplier of paper boxes, Joseph Rubin & Sons of Brooklyn — concerned about the possible loss of an important customer — became interested in the possibility of acquiring control. The company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, but Bernard D. Rubin
acquired a list of shareholders and approached them in person in order to purchase their shares. The Rubins eventually achieved control and agreed that Bernard would run the company as president. Bernard D. Rubin
was able to steadily increase sales and restore profits, changing the formula of the Tootsie Roll and increasing its size, moving from Manhattan to a much larger plant in Hoboken, N.J., and guiding the company successfully through the difficult war years when vital raw materials were in short supply. When he died in 1948 he had increased the sales volume twelvefold. After his death his brother William B. Rubin became president and remained president until 1962. In 1966 the company adopted its current name of Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.
The company has acquired several famous brands of confections such as The Candy Corporation of America's Mason Division (1972), Cella's Confections
(1985), The Charms Company
(1988), Warner-Lambert's candy division (1993; excluding gum and mints), Andes Candies (2000), and Concord Confections
(2004).
Tootsie Roll Industries currently markets its brands internationally in Canada
, Mexico
, and over 75 other countries. The company's headquarters are located in southwestern Chicago
, on the site of the former Tucker Corporation
factory.
Confectionery
Confectionery is the set of food items that are rich in sugar, any one or type of which is called a confection. Modern usage may include substances rich in artificial sweeteners as well...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its best-known products have been Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Pops.
In 1896 its founder Leo Hirshfield, an Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n immigrant to the United States, started his candy business in a small shop located in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He decided he wanted a chocolate-tasting candy that would not melt in the heat, and that would be an economical artificial alternative to traditional chocolates. He named the candy after the nickname of his daughter, Clara "Tootsie" Hirshfield. By 1905, production moved to a five-story factory. In 1917 the name of the company was changed to The Sweets Company of America. The business became a listed company in 1922. In 1931 the Tootsie Pop — a hard-candy lollipop with Tootsie Roll filling — was invented, and quickly became popular with Dust Bowl
Dust Bowl
The Dust Bowl, or the Dirty Thirties, was a period of severe dust storms causing major ecological and agricultural damage to American and Canadian prairie lands from 1930 to 1936...
refugees during the Depression era because of its low price. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Tootsie Rolls became a standard part of American soldiers' field rations, due to the hardiness of the candy under a variety of environmental conditions.
In 1935 the company was in serious difficulty. Its principal supplier of paper boxes, Joseph Rubin & Sons of Brooklyn — concerned about the possible loss of an important customer — became interested in the possibility of acquiring control. The company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, but Bernard D. Rubin
Bernard D. Rubin
Bernard D. Rubin was president and chief executive officer of Sweets Company of America, makers of the famous Tootsie Rolls, from 1936 to his death in July 1948....
acquired a list of shareholders and approached them in person in order to purchase their shares. The Rubins eventually achieved control and agreed that Bernard would run the company as president. Bernard D. Rubin
Bernard D. Rubin
Bernard D. Rubin was president and chief executive officer of Sweets Company of America, makers of the famous Tootsie Rolls, from 1936 to his death in July 1948....
was able to steadily increase sales and restore profits, changing the formula of the Tootsie Roll and increasing its size, moving from Manhattan to a much larger plant in Hoboken, N.J., and guiding the company successfully through the difficult war years when vital raw materials were in short supply. When he died in 1948 he had increased the sales volume twelvefold. After his death his brother William B. Rubin became president and remained president until 1962. In 1966 the company adopted its current name of Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.
The company has acquired several famous brands of confections such as The Candy Corporation of America's Mason Division (1972), Cella's Confections
Cella's
Cella's is a brand of chocolate-covered cherries marketed by Tootsie Roll Industries, who purchased it in 1985 from the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company.It currently comes in the following variety:* Milk Chocolate-Covered Cherries...
(1985), The Charms Company
Charms Blow Pops
Charms Blow Pops are lollipops with bubble gum centers surrounded by a hard candy shell. The candy was popularized by The Charms Company, which was acquired by Tootsie Roll Industries in 1988. Invention of the candy is attributed to Thomas Tate Tidwell in 1966, with the patent issued in November...
(1988), Warner-Lambert's candy division (1993; excluding gum and mints), Andes Candies (2000), and Concord Confections
Dubble Bubble
Dubble Bubble is a brand of bubble gum invented in 1928 by Philadelphia-based Fleer. Walter E. Diemer — an accountant at Fleer — enjoyed experimenting with recipes during his free time. In an interview a few years before his death, he said, "It was an accident"...
(2004).
Tootsie Roll Industries currently markets its brands internationally in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and over 75 other countries. The company's headquarters are located in southwestern Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, on the site of the former Tucker Corporation
Preston Tucker
Preston Thomas Tucker was an American automobile designer and entrepreneur.He is most remembered for his 1948 Tucker Sedan , an automobile which introduced many features that have since become widely used in modern cars...
factory.
Brands and products
Tootsie Roll brands and products include:- CrowsCrows (candy)Crows are a licorice candy similar in shape and texture to Dots.-History:Crows were invented in the 1890s by confectioners Ernest Von Au and Joseph Maison. The Black Crows trademark was registered in 1911. There is an urban legend that Crows were to be called "Black Rose," but the printer misheard...
- Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Pops
- FrootiesFrootiesFrooties is a fruit-flavored chewy candy distributed by Tootsie Roll Industries. The soft bite-sized candy was invented in the 1970s by Lukas R. "Luke" Weisgram. Available flavors include strawberry, blue raspberry, grape, green apple, strawberry lemonade, fruit punch, root beer, cran blueberry...
fruit flavored chewy candy - Child's PlayChild's Play (candy)Child's Play is a brand of candy assortments that come in big bags, manufactured by Tootsie Roll Industries.They come in the following variety:* Tootsie Rolls* Snack Bars* Flavor Rolls* Tootsie Pops* Mini-Dots...
assorted candies - DotsDots (candy)DOTS, or Mason DOTS, are a brand of gum drops marketed by Tootsie Roll Industries, which claims that "since its 1945 launch," the candy has become "America's...#1 selling gumdrop brand." According to advertisements, more than four billion dots are produced from the Tootsie Roll Industries Chicago...
gumdrops and CrowsCrows (candy)Crows are a licorice candy similar in shape and texture to Dots.-History:Crows were invented in the 1890s by confectioners Ernest Von Au and Joseph Maison. The Black Crows trademark was registered in 1911. There is an urban legend that Crows were to be called "Black Rose," but the printer misheard...
licorice candy - Andes Chocolate Mints
- Charms Blow PopsCharms Blow PopsCharms Blow Pops are lollipops with bubble gum centers surrounded by a hard candy shell. The candy was popularized by The Charms Company, which was acquired by Tootsie Roll Industries in 1988. Invention of the candy is attributed to Thomas Tate Tidwell in 1966, with the patent issued in November...
and Caramel Apple PopsCaramel Apple PopsCaramel Apple Pops are a brand of lollipops manufactured by Tootsie Roll Industries. The lollipops combine a green apple-flavored hard candy covered with a caramel coating reminiscent of a caramel apple. There are two additional flavors during Halloween: Golden and Red Macintosh.Caramel Apple Pops... - Sugar DaddySugar Daddy (candy)Sugar Daddy is a candy bar on a stick manufactured by Tootsie Roll Industries. A bite-sized candy based on the Sugar Daddy is marketed under the name Sugar Babies....
and Sugar BabiesSugar Babies (candy)Sugar Babies are an American confection originally developed in 1935 by the James O. Welch Co. Sugar Babies were named after a song called "Let Me Be Your Sugar Baby."...
caramels - Charleston ChewCharleston ChewCharleston Chew is a candy bar consisting of flavored nougat covered in chocolate flavor coating. It was created in 1922 by the Fox-Cross Candy Company, and the candy was named for the Charleston, a popular dance at that time.-History:...
candy bars - Junior MintsJunior MintsJunior Mints are a candy consisting of small rounds of mint filling inside a dark chocolate coating. Currently produced by Tootsie Roll Industries, the product is packaged in varying amounts from the fun-size box to the much larger 12.0 oz. box....
- Cella'sCella'sCella's is a brand of chocolate-covered cherries marketed by Tootsie Roll Industries, who purchased it in 1985 from the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company.It currently comes in the following variety:* Milk Chocolate-Covered Cherries...
chocolate-covered cherries - Fluffy StuffFluffy StuffFluffy Stuff is a brand of cotton candy that comes in a variety of fruit flavors, marketed by Tootsie Roll Industries, who acquired it in 2000....
cotton candy - Dubble BubbleDubble BubbleDubble Bubble is a brand of bubble gum invented in 1928 by Philadelphia-based Fleer. Walter E. Diemer — an accountant at Fleer — enjoyed experimenting with recipes during his free time. In an interview a few years before his death, he said, "It was an accident"...
, RazzlesRazzlesRazzles are a candy that once chewed, mix to transform into chewing gum. Originally introduced in 1966, with an advertising slogan and jingle of, "First it's a candy, then it's a gum. Little round Razzles are so much fun." The original flavor was raspberry. They were named after a fictional...
, and Cry BabyCry Baby (gum)Cry Baby is a brand of extra sour bubble gum manufactured by Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.Their claim to fame is their incredibly sour coating, which disappears shortly after the gum is chewed...
chewing gum - Nik-L-NipNik-L-NipNik-L-Nip is a brand of juice confection that comes in a variety of fruit flavors, marketed by Tootsie Roll Industries. The fruit flavored juice is found inside small, bottle-shaped wax container....
juice confection - RazzlesRazzlesRazzles are a candy that once chewed, mix to transform into chewing gum. Originally introduced in 1966, with an advertising slogan and jingle of, "First it's a candy, then it's a gum. Little round Razzles are so much fun." The original flavor was raspberry. They were named after a fictional...
- Bonomo's Turkish TaffyTurkish TaffyTurkish Taffy Is a chewy taffy / nougat-like candy, which is currently owned and sold by Bonomo Turkish Taffy LLC. Turkish Taffy was invented in 1912 by Herman Herer in New York ....