Atkinson Candy Company

Last updated
Atkinson Candy Company
Company typePrivate
IndustryConfections manufacturer
Founded1932
FounderB.E. Atkinson, Sr.
Mabel C. Atkinson
HeadquartersLufkin, ,
Key people
Doug Hanks (COO)
Eric Atkinson (President)
Steve Ornell (VP of Sales & Marketing)
Sarah Atkinson (Marketing Manager)
Products"Chick-O-Stick"
"Coconut Long Boys"
Peanut brittle
Mint twists
"Peanut Butter Bars"
Holiday candy
Website atkinsoncandy.com   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
An assortment of Atkinson candies AtkinsonCandy.jpg
An assortment of Atkinson candies
A split Chick-O-Stick Chick-O-Stick-Split.jpg
A split Chick-O-Stick

The Atkinson Candy Company is a candy company based in Lufkin, Texas, best known for producing the Chick-O-Stick.

Contents

History

Atkinson Candy Company is a private company [1] founded in 1932 by B.E. Atkinson, Sr., and his wife, Mabel C. Atkinson. [2] It started when Basil E. Atkinson made two-day treks to Houston to purchase candy and tobacco, then he would sell it to mom-and-pop shops on the return trip. [3]

The company currently operates out of a 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) facility, and is led by Eric Atkinson, grandchild of the founders. [2] The third and fourth generations of the Atkinson family are now running the Atkinson Candy Company. [3]

Judson-Atkinson Candies

In 1983, Atkinson purchased another local company, the Judson Candy Company, later known as Judson-Atkinson Candies, from the Pearl Brewing Company. [4] [5] Judson-Atkinson was founded in 1899, and was based in San Antonio, Texas. In 2011, Judson-Atkinson shut down business due to the high prices of sugar and raw materials. [6] Judson-Atkinson Candy Company used about four million pounds of sugar each year to make their bulk candies. [7]

Product line

Atkinson Candy Company miniature Peanut Butter Bars Atkinsons-Candy-Co-Peanut-Butter-Bar.jpg
Atkinson Candy Company miniature Peanut Butter Bars

Atkinson Candy Company specializes in peanut butter and peppermint-flavored candies. The current product line includes the Chick-O-Stick, Coconut Long Boys, peanut brittle, mint twists, Peanut Butter Bars, and holiday candy. Atkinson also produces a premium hard candy line known as Gemstone Candies. [2] [4] In 2013, Atkinson acquired the candies Black Cow, Slo Poke and Sophie Mae from The Warrell Corporation. [8] In 2019, they reached a licensing agreement with Spangler Candy Company to make the former Necco candy, Mary Janes. [9]

Related Research Articles

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A chocolate bar is a confection containing chocolate, which may also contain layerings or mixtures that include nuts, fruit, caramel, nougat, and wafers. A flat, easily breakable, chocolate bar is also called a tablet. In some varieties of English and food labeling standards, the term chocolate bar is reserved for bars of solid chocolate, with candy bar used for products with additional ingredients.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peanut butter</span> Paste made from ground peanuts

Peanut butter is a food paste or spread made from ground, dry-roasted peanuts. It commonly contains additional ingredients that modify the taste or texture, such as salt, sweeteners, or emulsifiers. Consumed in many countries, it is the most commonly used of the nut butters, a group that also includes cashew butter and almond butter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reese's Peanut Butter Cups</span> American candy made by Hersheys

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are an American candy by the Hershey Company consisting of a peanut butter filling encased in chocolate. They were created on November 15, 1928, by H. B. Reese, a former dairy farmer and shipping foreman for Milton S. Hershey. Reese left his job with Hershey to start his own candy business. Reese's are a top-selling candy brand worldwide, with more than $2 billion in annual sales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fluffernutter</span> Sandwich made with peanut butter and marshmallow creme

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The Clark Bar is a candy bar consisting of a crispy peanut butter/spun taffy core and coated in milk chocolate. It was introduced in 1917 by David L. Clark and was popular during and after both World Wars. It was the first American "combination" candy bar to achieve nationwide success. Two similar candy bars followed the Clark Bar, the Butterfinger bar (1923) made by the Curtiss Candy Company and the 5th Avenue bar (1936) created by Luden's.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bit-O-Honey</span> American candy product

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chick-O-Stick</span> Peanut butter confectionery

Chick-O-Stick is a candy produced by the Atkinson Candy Company that has been manufactured since the 1950s. It is made primarily from peanut butter, cane sugar, corn syrup, toasted coconut, natural vanilla flavor, and salt with no hydrogenated oils or artificial preservatives added. There is also a sugar-free version of the candy which uses Splenda as a sweetener.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goetze's Candy Company</span> US confectionery company

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candy pumpkin</span> Pumpkin-shaped creme confection

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The Spangler Candy Company is a privately owned international confectioner that has been manufacturing and marketing candy since 1906. Headquartered in Bryan, Ohio, Spangler's products include lollipops, candy canes, and marshmallow circus peanuts. Spangler brand names include Dum Dums, Saf-T-Pops, Whistle Pops, Spangler Candy Canes, and Spangler Circus Peanuts. Dum Dums were invented in 1924, and Spangler purchased the rights and equipment in 1953. The small multicolor lollipops are popular as free giveaways. In 2018, Spangler bought various assets and brands from the defunct Necco, retaining the rights to Necco Wafers, Sweethearts conversation hearts, and Canada Mints. In 2020, Spangler bought the rights to Bit-O-Honey from Pearson Candy Company.

The Charms Candy Company was a candy company founded in 1912 and sold to Tootsie Roll Industries in 1988. It was known for candies including Blow Pops and Charms.

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References

  1. "Atkinson Candy CO". Manta Media Inc. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Atkinson Candy Company – Atkinson Candy Co". atkinsoncandy.com. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
  3. 1 2 "Atkinson Candy Co. moves toward SQF certification with new warehouse". www.candyindustry.com. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
  4. 1 2 Kimmerle, Beth (2003). Candy: the sweet history. Collectors Press, Inc. p. 78. ISBN   978-1-888054-83-5.
  5. "Hoover's Company Profiles: Atkinson Candy Company". Answers Corporation. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  6. "Judson-Atkinson Candies Closes Its Doors - For Now". Candy Industry. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  7. Danner, By Patrick. "Not so sweet times for S.A. candy maker". Mysa. Hearst Communications Inc. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  8. "Atkinson Candy Co. acquires Black Cow, Slo Poke and Sophie Mae". Candy Industry. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  9. "Atkinson to produce Mary Jane candies under agreement with Spangler Candy". candyindustry.com. Candy Industry. 2019-10-16. Retrieved 2020-05-31.