Jolly Ranchers History

The history of Jolly Rancher candy dates back to the early 20th century, when it was first created and introduced to the confectionery market. The origins of Jolly Rancher can be traced to the hard work and ingenuity of a man named Bill Harmsen.

In 1949, Bill Harmsen and his partner Dorothy Harmsen founded the Jolly Rancher Company in Golden, Colorado. Originally, the company specialized in making ice cream, chocolate, and other confections. However, they soon decided to shift their focus to hard candies.

The Jolly Rancher Company began producing hard candies with intense fruit flavors, aiming to offer something unique and exciting to consumers. The candies were named "Jolly Ranchers" to evoke a sense of joy and playfulness.

In the early years, Jolly Ranchers were sold primarily as individually wrapped hard candies. They quickly gained a reputation for their bold and long-lasting fruit flavors, including cherry, watermelon, green apple, grape, and blue raspberry. These vibrant flavors, coupled with the hard candy texture, became a winning combination that appealed to candy lovers of all ages.

Jolly Ranchers gained significant popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, as they expanded their distribution and became widely available in stores across the United States. The candies became a staple in candy aisles, vending machines, and candy jars in households, schools, and workplaces.

In 1996, the Jolly Rancher Company was acquired by The Hershey Company, one of the largest confectionery manufacturers in the world. This acquisition brought Jolly Rancher into a larger corporate fold while maintaining its unique brand identity and flavor profiles.

Over the years, Jolly Rancher has expanded its product line to include various formats and variations. They introduced chewy candies, lollipops, gummies, and even drink mixes, allowing consumers to enjoy Jolly Rancher flavors in different ways.

Today, Jolly Ranchers continue to be beloved for their distinctive taste and iconic flavors. Their hard candies are known for their mouthwatering fruit flavors that pack a punch and provide a long-lasting, flavorful experience. The brand remains a popular choice for those seeking a bold and tangy candy treat.

The success of Jolly Rancher candy can be attributed to its commitment to quality, bold flavors, and a spirit of joyfulness. Through the years, Jolly Ranchers have become a nostalgic favorite and a symbol of the American candy landscape, offering a burst of fruity delight to candy enthusiasts around the world.

Jolly Ranchers Memories

I have eaten and loved jolly ranchers ever since I can remember. It was always a treat for my friends and me to go to the store, mostly during the summer and buy pocketfuls of jolly ranchers that would only last us that very day. We would go back soon, if not the next day, and stock up again.

Then, it was off to riding bikes, sliding on cardboard boxes down the steepest hill we could find, and off to the baseball games at night to see our secret crush play. You could also get away with jolly ranchers at school, as long as you weren't asked a question, or asked to recite. It was not something that you could swallow unless it happened to be almost all gone. They were always such a wonderful burst of flavor. I love them. ~ Debbie from Texas