Brach's
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| Product type | Confectionery |
|---|---|
| Owner | Ferrara Candy Company |
| Introduced | 1904 |
| Markets | United States |
| Tagline | Break Out the Brach's |
| Website | www |
Brach's Confections /ˈbrɑːks/ is a candy and sweets company headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. In November 2007, Brach's Confections was sold to Farley's & Sathers Candy Company and then in 2012, it merged with the Ferrara Pan Candy Company to form the Ferrara Candy Company. It is known as "America's Candy Maker" to pay tribute to their long tradition of making and selling candies in the United States since 1904.
Founded in 1904 by Emil J. Brach, he invested his life savings, $1,000, in a storefront candy store. He named it "Brach's Palace of Sweets" and it was located at the corner of North Avenue and Towne Street in Chicago, Illinois. With his sons Edwin and Frank, he started with one kettle. Investing in additional equipment he was able to lower his production costs and sell his candy for 20 cents per pound, well below the more typical 50 cents per pound his competitors were charging. By 1911 his production had reached 50,000 pounds per week.
By 1923, Brach had 4 factories operating at capacity. Brach then invested $5 million in a new factory, beginning construction in 1921. It was built at 4656 West Kinzie Street, and consolidated production into one building. At the time, they were producing 127 different varieties of candy and had a capacity of 2,225,000 pounds per week. Over the years, this new plant was expanded and investments in new processes and equipment were made, including its own chocolate grinding plant and a large panning operation. In 1948, after an electrical spark ignited corn starch, a massive explosion on the plant's third floor killed 11 employees and injured 18. Much of the factory's north side was destroyed. Reconstruction brought the plant's capacity up to more than 4 million pounds of product per year, and it employed 2,400 workers, in 2,200,000 square feet (200,000 m2). It was recognized as the largest candy manufacturing plant in the world at the time. At its peak, 4,500 employees worked there. The plant was eventually abandoned in 2003 when new owners took over operations (see below) and production was moved primarily to Mexico. An administrative building was blown up for a special effects scene in The Dark Knight Batman movie in August, 2007, the rest of the complex is in ruins awaiting its eventual demolition.
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