Whitman's

Whitman's is one of America's largest and oldest brands of boxed chocolates. Whitman's confections have been produced since 1842, originally by Stephen Whitman in Philadelphia and currently by Russell Stover Candies. The Whitman's Sampler, an assortment of boxed chocolates, is still popular.

History

Whitman's confections have been produced for over 160 years.Originally a "confectionery and fruiterer shoppe" set up in 1842 by 19 year old Stephen F. Whitman on the Philadelphia waterfront, Whitman's first became popular with travelling sailors and their wives. They would often bring imported fruits, nut and cocoa from their trips back to Mr. Whitman so that he could make the popular European confections people craved in that era. Before long Whitman's chocolates were popular all along the north-eastern section of the United States.

The first prepackaged Whitman's candy was produced in 1854. It was a box of sugar plums adorned with curlicues and rosebuds. Whitman began advertising in newspapers shortly before the beginning of the Civil War. The business thrived and in 1866 an entire building at 12th and Market Streets in Philadelphia was taken over by the company. In 1877, Instantaneous Chocolates were introduced in tin boxes that became much admired.

Whitman's introduced the perennially popular and still best selling Whitman's Sampler in 1912. This marked the first use of cellophane by the candy industry.

In 1946 Whitman's helped General Electric to develop a...
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