A Fresh Start, Fresh Fruit, Fresh Candy
It all began in 1878 when a fire destroyed the St. Joseph Michigan home of Edward Cook (E.C.) Palmer. Instead of rebuilding, the adventurous E.C. decided to pack up his family and move to the fast-growing frontier town of Sioux City, Iowa to purchase a wholesale grocery operation. In 1892, E.C.'s eldest son, William B. Palmer, decided to go into business and opened up a wholesale fruit company and realizing that it really is better to keep things in the family, William went into business with his father and brother Charles, forming Palmer and Company.
Prior to the turn of the century, the Palmers identified the need to diversify and delved into the candy business, selling bulk and hard candy in wooden containers from the back of their fruit house. The company quickly outgrew its quarters and in 1900 moved into a new four-story building. They were extremely proud of their high-rise, thoroughly modern facility that bragged such up-to-date technologies as ammonia cold storage and its own electric generator and steam boilers that supplied cooking steam to make Palmers quality confections. The candy factory made everything from fancy hand-dipped boxed chocolates to penny candy as well as a variety of gumdrops and marshmallows. Candies and the wholesale fruit were delivered to customers by a fleet of horse-drawn wagons.
The Birth Of The Bing
The roaring 20s brought prosperity to our country and increasing sales to the Palmer fruit and candy business. 1923 marked the birth of Palmer Candy Company's Bing candy bar. At the time, candy bars were an innovative concept that was rapidly sweeping the nation. Nearly 40,000 new candy bars were launched as customers changed their buying behavior from purchasing their chocolate bulk at a candy counter or in a fancy box from the neighborhood drug store to buying candy bars at a grocery store and a variety of other more convenient outlets. The Bing candy bar is still produced today and remains a Midwest regional favorite!
Nuts, La Fama, Repack and Rack
Palmers purchased Sioux City's Soo Candy Company and its peanut-roasting department in 1941. This was the beginning of the Palmer peanut and nutmeat business that still exists today. In 1956, the company purchased the candy division of the Johnson Biscuit Company, claiming the rights to the popular La Fama candy brand. At the same time, the company began purchasing candy from other manufacturers and expanded into the repack and rack business - a division of the business continues to be an important part of the company today.
A Fruitless Endeavor
In 1969, the fruit company closed its doors, allowing the Palmer Company to focus its energy on the candy business. As the company's growth continued, so did the need to expand into an updated, larger facility. In 1979, the Palmer Candy Company moved to its current location - a large factory remodeled exclusively for the production of candy. The facility houses four floors of candy manufacturing, peanut roasting, candy rebagging, warehousing, shipping and offices.
Some Things Really Do Get Better With Age!
Today in its 125th year, a fifth-generation family member, the great-great grandson of founder, E.C. Palmer, runs the Palmer Candy Company. Striving for confection, the company concentrates on its four business areas:
- Bulk sales of chocolate and other candies to Grocery and Specialty Stores
- Contract Manufacturing and Private Label
- Rebagging
- The Bing candy bar line
Offering its hometown community a bit of nostalgia, history and lots of delicious candy, the Palmer Candy Company also operates an Old Time Candy Shoppe at its original factory in Sioux City, Iowa. The historic building is decorated with old pictures, antique advertising and packaging as well as other interesting company artifacts. And, just like it has been for five generations, the people working there are excited that you came in and are happy to be able to treat you to some of the best candy around!
We Sure Don't Act Our Age!
Not showing any signs of slowing down in their "old age", Palmer Candy Company has purchased a new, larger facility in Sioux City that will be renovated into a state-of-the-art plant with the ability to meet the needs of the company and its customers well into the next generation!
1871 Great Chicago Fire destroys Chicago's downtown
Fire destroys E.C. Palmer's original store in Michigan. E.C. moves to Sioux City, Iowa and purchases wholesale grocery operation.1878 First Coca-Cola sold in Atlanta, Georgia
1889 North Dakota and South Dakota admitted to the Union
1900 Palmer Company moves its candy and fruit business into a four-story factory building
1903 Hershey builds a chocolate factory near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
1912 First Lady Helen Herron Taft & wife of Japanese Ambassador plant cherry trees in Washington, D.C.
1923 Bing candy bar, including the Cherry Bing, are introduced
1927 Bing Crosby sings "Side by Side" - perhaps an early inspiration for the Twin Bing???
1940 Palmer purchases Soo Candy Company and its peanut-roasting department
1950 First "Peanuts" cartoon strip runs
1956 Palmer purchases the Johnson Biscuit Candy division claiming the rights to the La Fama candy brand
1958 Richie Valens releases "La Bamba" on the flip side of "Oh Donna" - Coincidence??
1969 With the end of "Star Trek", American TV viewers concentrate on "The Brady Bunch"
1969 With the end of their fruit business, the Palmer Company concentrates on its candy business
1973 Laura Lee Hope publishes "The Bobbsey Twins and the Secret Candy Castle"
1973 Palmer Candy Company releases the double bump "Twin Bing"
1979 Sister Sledge enjoys success with the hit song "We Are Family"
1979 Palmer family moves to its current location and enjoys success with improved production, warehousing, peanut roasting, rebagging and shipping systems
1986 In its first year, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducts Elvis Presley -The King
1986 Palmer Candy company offers a triple bump Bing - The King Bing
2003 Palmer Candy acquires 220,000 sq foot Distribution Center
2003 Palmer Candy Company celebrates 125th anniversary
