[continued from above] It all began in 1918. World War I had just ended and young Lt. Bob McCormack decided to pursue his dream of starting a candy plant. In the early years, Lt. McCormack served as salesman, bookkeeper and plant manager. Before long, his knowledge of the candy field became such that men in all phases of the confectionery business sought his advice. From the beginning the company earned a reputation for being an innovative leader in the candy industry. In the 1920s, Bobs was the first candy manufacturer to wrap candy in a new transparent paper…cellophane. By the 1950s, Bobs was using the first ever machine to automatically make stick candy. The machine was developed and patented by Lt. McCormack’s brother-in-law Gregory Keller, a Catholic priest. Later, Bobs began using patented box and case designs for safe candy shipment.
Today, Bobs is an acknowledged leader in confections and the largest producer of candy canes in the world. The brand is owned by the Farley's & Sathers Candy Company  My grandparents lived in Frankfort, Indiana. I lived in Muncie, Indiana and Kendalville, Indiana and then in Muncie, Illinois. Every Christmas morning we would get up around 4:00 a.m. and drive to Frankfort, Indiana to Christmas breakfast with all of my Mother's relatives. Grandma always had Bob's old fashioned mint sticks. I remember how they were softer than other peppermint sticks and would dissolve on my tongue. Sometimes you could blow through them or use them as a straw to drink through. ~ Gloria from California |
