Century-old Chicago candy maker Primrose files for bankruptcy

Primrose Candy seeks to reorganize $12 million in debts and secure new financing to keep its factory running

Jan. 28, 2026 at 3:15pm

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Primrose Candy, a 100-year-old, family-owned Chicago candy manufacturer, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company is seeking to reorganize more than $12 million in debts and secure new financing to pay its 90 mostly contract employees and other business expenses. Rising costs of production have made it difficult for Primrose to maintain profitability, leading to the bankruptcy filing.

Why it matters

Primrose Candy is a legacy Chicago business that has been making confections for over a century. Its bankruptcy filing highlights the challenges facing small, family-owned manufacturers as they grapple with rising costs and debt. The outcome of Primrose's reorganization could have implications for the future of other long-standing local businesses in the city.

The details

Primrose Candy was founded in 1928 by Frank and Mae Puch with just $500. The company has expanded over the years, producing a variety of candies including hard candies, chews, popcorn, and other treats. However, the rising costs of production, including the cost of ingredients, have made it difficult for Primrose to maintain profitability. The company's largest unsecured creditor is Labor Solutions, a staffing agency owed $7.5 million. Primrose is seeking to obtain secured financing from an existing $7.5 million line of credit and use cash collateral to fund its ongoing operations.

  • Primrose Candy was founded in 1928.
  • Primrose's son joined the family business in 1945.
  • Primrose generated $7.8 million in revenue in 2025, down from $11.8 million in 2024.
  • In September 2025, Labor Solutions filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Primrose.
  • Primrose filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on January 28, 2026.

The players

Primrose Candy

A century-old, family-owned Chicago candy manufacturer that has been making confections since 1928.

Frank and Mae Puch

The founders of Primrose Candy who launched the company with $500 in 1928.

Labor Solutions

A suburban Chicago staffing agency that is Primrose's largest unsecured creditor, owed $7.5 million.

Pathward

The holder of a $7.5 million line of credit that Primrose is seeking to use as part of its bankruptcy reorganization.

David Welch

A Chicago attorney representing Primrose Candy in the bankruptcy proceedings.

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What they’re saying

“The cost of making that same piece of candy is so much more than what it used to be, and you can't keep up with your pricing to absorb all those costs when you have a lot of old debt that you also have to service.”

— David Welch, Attorney representing Primrose Candy (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

Primrose Candy is seeking to obtain secured financing from its existing $7.5 million line of credit and use cash collateral to fund its ongoing operations as part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. The company hopes to confirm a plan of reorganization in the coming months that will allow it to address its old debt and maintain its cash flow requirements.

The takeaway

Primrose Candy's bankruptcy filing highlights the challenges facing small, family-owned manufacturers in the face of rising costs and debt. The outcome of Primrose's reorganization could serve as a case study for other long-standing local businesses in Chicago struggling to adapt to changing economic conditions and maintain their legacy in the community.