Whitman's
From Free net encyclopedia
| Revision as of 20:08, 7 April 2006 Blainster (Talk | contribs) copyedit, note Whitman's Samplers, expand ← Previous diff |
Current revision Blainster (Talk | contribs) copyedit, note Whitman's Samplers, expand |
Current revision
Image:Whitmanslogo.jpg Whitman's is one of the world's largest and oldest chocolate production companies. Originally a "confectionery and fruiterer shoppe" set up in 1842 by 19 year old Stephen F. Whitman on a Philadelphia waterfront, Whitman's first became popular with travelling sailors and their wives. They would often bring imported fruits, nuts and cocoa from their trips back to Mr. Whitman so that he could make the popular European confections people craved in that era. Before long Whitman's chocolates were popular all along the north-eastern section of the United States.
The first prepackaged Whitman's candy was produced in 1854. It was a box of sugar plums adorned with curlicues and rosebuds. Whitman then began advertising in newspapers, shortly before the beginning of the Civil War. The business thrived and in 1866 an entire building at 12th and Market Streets in Philadelphia was taken over by the company. In 1877, Instantaneous Chocolates were introduced in tin boxes that became much admired. Whitman's introduced the perennial popular and still best selling Whitman's Sampler in 1912. This marked the first use of cellophane by the candy industry. In 1946 Whitman's helped General Electric to develop a refrigerated display case to prevent melting of the product and extend the selling season through the summer months.
Whitman's has since enjoyed over 160 years of chocolate production. They have also maintained a longstanding tradition of supporting American servicemen and servicewomen during wartime. During World War I millions of tins were shipped to American soldiers throughout the world. During World War II, women at the Whitman's production line secretly slipped handwritten notes of encouragement into candy boxes to help soothe soldiers' homesickness.
The company is now a part of Russell Stover Candies, the major supplier of boxed candy in the United States. Russell Stover began as a family business in Denver, Colorado in 1923. It remained a private partnership until 1969. It now distributes to 50 company stores and 40,000 other outlets, having expanded internationally to Canada, Mexico, Australia, and the United Kingdom.