Philadelphia's Sweet Candy Legacy Lives On

The city was once a hub for iconic holiday treats like Peeps, Reese's, and Whitman's Chocolates.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Philadelphia was a major center for candymaking in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with companies like Whitman's Chocolates, Wilbur's Chocolate, and Hershey's establishing their roots in the city. Many of America's most popular holiday candies, from Peeps to Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, have Philadelphia or Pennsylvania origins. While some of these companies have since moved out of the city, vestiges of Philadelphia's candy legacy remain, with shops like Shane's Confectionery continuing the tradition of handmade, specialty treats.

Why it matters

Philadelphia's rich candy history reflects the city's role as a major port and industrial hub in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The availability of sugar and other ingredients, as well as advancements in transportation and manufacturing, allowed candymakers to thrive in the city. This legacy has endured, with many iconic brands and holiday treats still tied to Philadelphia and the surrounding region.

The details

Philadelphia's candy history dates back to the 19th century, when companies like Whitman's Chocolates, Wilbur's Chocolate, and Phillip Wunderle's candy company set up shop in the city. Many of these candymakers were concentrated in the Old City neighborhood. The city's position as a major port and improvements in sugar refining and transportation helped fuel the growth of the candy industry. Iconic brands like Hershey's, Reese's, and York Peppermint Patties all have roots in the Philadelphia area.

  • In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Second Industrial Revolution expanded transportation and trade, leading to a dramatic increase in candymakers and confectioners in Philadelphia.
  • In 1900, Milton Hershey revolutionized the chocolate industry by introducing the Hershey Bar, the first mass-produced milk chocolate in the United States.
  • In 1926, H.B. Reese built his own candy factory in Hershey, Pennsylvania and two years later introduced his famous Peanut Butter Cups.
  • In 1940, the York Peppermint Pattie, a chocolate-covered soft mint candy, was introduced in a town 40 miles south of Hershey.
  • In the post-World War II era, many of Philadelphia's candy companies moved out of the city, but vestiges of the city's candy dominance can still be found.

The players

Whitman's Chocolates

One of the oldest candymakers still in existence, Whitman's Chocolates was concentrated in Philadelphia's Old City neighborhood.

Wilbur's Chocolate

The company that would become Wilbur's Chocolate was founded in 1865 and began production of their famous Buds, made by pouring hot liquefied chocolate into molds that resembled flower buds.

Phillip Wunderle

The maker of gumdrops and other candies, Wunderle Candy Company was located in North Liberties, just north of Old City, and employed a young Milton Hershey.

Milton Hershey

In 1900, Hershey revolutionized the chocolate industry by introducing the Hershey Bar, the first mass-produced milk chocolate in the United States.

H.B. Reese

A former dairy manager at Hershey, Reese built his own candy factory in Hershey in 1926 and introduced the famous Reese's Peanut Butter Cups two years later.

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The takeaway

Philadelphia's candy legacy has endured, with many iconic brands and holiday treats still tied to the city and surrounding region. While some companies have moved out, specialty shops like Shane's Confectionery continue the tradition of handmade, high-quality candies that put Philadelphia on the map as a sweet spot for confectionery.