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Americans have always loved candy. Long before it was recognized as a nation, her inhabitants were eating maple syrup as a snack. The first settlers from Europe brought along sugary treats with them from the Old Country. Most of these sweets were made and enjoyed at home, rather than purchased at the store. The average settler knew how to make candies like licorice, pralines, marzipan, marshmallows and sugar plums on his own. These treats were often served as a desert or enjoyed as a snack.

As the nation continued to grow, general stores became the convenience stores of their time. One of their most popular offerings was penny candy. They sold individually wrapped sweets like chocolate and peppermints for a penny, obviously. The Industrial Revolution took sweet making from the home to the factory. Candy sales skyrocketed, as skilled candy makers introduced appealing new brands.

There were over four hundred companies that made candy by the middle of the 19th century. It was a golden age for sweets in America. Chocolatiers and other creative candy men were inventing exiting new types of candy. Boxed chocolates, Tootsie Rolls, candy corn and cotton candy were all introduced before the turn of the century. The iconic Hersey bar was introduced in 1900 and was followed a few years later by Hersey's Kisses.

The first half century of the 20th century is generally regarded as the high-water mark for the candy industry. The sheer numbers of famous brands and candies that were introduced during this period is astounding. Names like Milky Way, Snickers, Milk Duds, Reese's, Junior Mints, Red Hots and M & Ms were invented in this era.

Where are we now?

Candy is an enormous, multi-billion dollar industry in the United States. According to the National Confectioners Association, about 99 percent of households buy candy at least once a week. Of course, sweets remain a highly seasonal treat. Most candy is sold between Halloween and Christmas. Over two billion candy canes are displayed on December 25th and 600 million pounds of sweets are distributed on All Hollow's Eve. Americans spend over two billion dollars on candy just for those two days!

What is bulk candy?

If you've ever been to the supermarket and scooped candy out of those clear plastic containers, you know what bulk candy is. Bulk candy is rarely wrapped individually and it is not sold in attractive packaging. These simple facts allow candy makers to cut costs and to offer their sweets at or near wholesale prices. Buying candy in bulk makes sense because you can save beaucoup bucks and still enjoy your favorite treats. Most of the most popular candies can be purchased in bulk quantities.

What is available?

As we mentioned, most sweets that are sold this way are not individually wrapped, so it is rare to find full-size candy bars. But nearly any other type of candy can be purchase in bulk. There are at least six popular types of candy that can be purchased affordably in large quantities. Let us take a moment to discuss them.

Gummy Candies

Whether they are shaped like bears, worms or fish, these popular gelatin-based candies can be bought in bulk quantities. Probably the most popular brand name in the group is Swedish Fish, which are widely available from online sellers.

Chocolate Covered

Pretzels, peanuts and raisins that are dipped or coated in chocolate are enjoyed by millions of Americans each year. Purchasing these treats in bulk is easy and affordable.

Gum

Gumballs and individually wrapped gum brands like Double Bubble Bubble Gum were offered by many of the bulk candy sites we visited.

Licorice

No matter its shape or color, licorice can be purchased in copious quantities. Many of the top licorice makers offer their products to the public on the internet; this includes popular imported brands from Germany and the Netherlands.

Jelly Beans

With their hard candy shell and gummy insides, the jelly bean has been around since the Civil War. It is now offered in hundreds of different flavors and in bulk quantities. Purchasing pounds of jelly beans instead of ounces at a time can save you quite a bit of money.

Candy Corn

About twenty million pounds of candy corn is purchased each year, making it one of the most popular generic candies on earth. Once again, buying candy corn in bulk and then distributing them in plastic bags on Halloween will save you money.

Name Brands

A handful of popular candy companies sell their products in bulk. They include Starburst, Skittles, Good & Plenty, Sour Patch Kids, Jolly Ranchers and Reese's  Peanut Butter cups.

Buying candy in bulk is easy and affordable with the help of the internet and reliable online sellers.




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