Smarties Candy Company
| File:Smarties wrapped.jpg | |
| Private | |
| Industry | Food industry, confectioner |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Headquarters | Union, New Jersey |
|
Key people
|
Jonathan Dee, President |
| Products | Smarties |
|
Number of employees
|
100 |
| Slogan | "Smarties, America's favorite candy wafer roll" |
Smarties Candy Company (formerly Ce De Candy, Inc.) is a confectionery company well known for its candy, Smarties.[1][2] Edward "Eddie" Dee founded Ce De Candy in Bloomfield, New Jersey in 1949.[1] His son, Jonathan Dee, is president of the company.[3][4] Edward Dee’s granddaughters, Sarah Dee, Jessica Dee Sawyer and Liz Dee serve as executive vice presidents and oversee day-to-day operations.[3][5] Smarties Candy Company operates plants in Union Township, New Jersey, and in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada.[6] Its headquarters are in Union Township.[2][4] It is one of the few remaining family-owned, mass-production confectionery companies in the United States.[3]
While generally considered a Halloween staple, groups also give out Smarties to encourage people to buckle up and drive safely. Among these are Tampa Bays' Students Against Destructive Ideas (SADD) and Dum Dum or Smartie initiatives in schools.[7][8][9][10]
Contents
History
In 1949, Edward Dee first began producing candy rolls in a rented New Jersey factory in Bloomfield with one wrapping machine and one tablet presser which was a repurposed pellet-making machine.[11][1][12] He called his product "Smarties".[2] His family produces a similar candy in England through Swizzels Matlow Co.[13] Initially, Dee took the candy by car to small grocery and tobacco stores.[11] Dee later moved his American operations to Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1959 and then again to its current location in Union Township in 1967.[1][14]
Ce De Candy's Canadian operations were first established in Toronto, Ontario in 1963, and were later moved to Newmarket in 1988.[15][13] The Canadian candies go by the name Rockets to avoid confusion with Nestle’s candy coated chocolate Smarties.[1][14][15] The company now produces Smarties around the clock in its two factories producing over 2.5 billion Smarties candy rolls per year.[4][14][15]
In 1991, Mr. T and Ce De Candy collaborated to form Crusade for Kids.[12] It encouraged kids to stay in school and say "no" to drugs.[12] Crusade for Kids raised funds for the Children's Defense Fund charity. In October 2010, company vice president of sales and marketing Eric Ostrow was inducted into the Candy Hall of Fame.[16]
In 2011, the company changed its name from Ce De Candy's to Smarties Candy Company after its most famous product.[1][15][11]
Products
The company also produces Mega Smarties, Giant Smarties, X-treme Sour Smarties, Tropical Smarties, Love Hearts, Smarties 'n Creme, candy necklaces, Smarties Pops in three sizes, and other candies,[1][4][6][17][3][5] including Breath Savers.[13] All Smarties products are peanut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan.[18][5]
References
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