REYMER & BROTHERS, INC.
“Remember, Everybody Likes Candy.” This is the slogan
of the National Confectioners’ Association. And it is also a
truism. Perhaps, however, a better truism is: “Remember,
Everybody Likes More Candy.” For actual facts, borne out
by statistics, are that the consumption of sugar, in the United
States, which now leads the world, is constantly on the in-
crease, and a large part of this increase is used in the making
of confectionery.
As it is the intent of this article to relate what we believe
are interesting facts concerning confectionery as a food pro-
duct, it will be noted we but briefly comment on the numerous
commodities that enter into its manufacture. To do justice
would require another article; perhaps several. Neither is it
the intention to debate or explain the probable reason for the
marvelous increase in the apparent liking for sweets, interest-
ing as this might be; sufficient to say that 100 years ago the
amount of sugar used per capita in the United States was
10 Ibs. Last year it was over 100 lbs.! And so to what effect
the 18th Amendment has had, some say this and some say
that, but deponent sayeth not.
In 1849, which appears the first year a census was taken
of the candy industry, we find the number of manufacturing
confectioners in the United States is given as 383—with a
capital of $1,036,000 and annual sales of $3,041,000. In 1879
this had increased to 1450 manufactories—with a capital of
$8,487,000 and sales of $25,637,000. In 1928 there were over
8500 manufacturing confectioners, this not including many
small factories making goods valued at less than $5000 yearly.
There are over 70,000 retail confectioneries in the United
States and last year’s sales are variously estimated from one-
half billion to one billion dollars. And strictly chocolate and
cocoa are not included.
It is doubtful if there is any modern industry that has
experienced more radical changes during the last 100 years
than that of candy making. Prior to 1846 the manufacture of
“boiled sweets,” as candy then was called, was largely an
English specialty, and it is doubtless a fact that the great
International Exhibition in London in 1851, when the unique