A century of candy corn: from chicken feed to Halloween staple

This colorful confection has been around for over a century, first appearing in the 1880s. George Renninger, working at the Wunderle Candy Company in Philadelphia, is credited with its invention, according to the National Confectioners Association.

Inspired by the popular trend of creating candies that resemble natural elements, Renninger designed candy corn to mimic corn kernels. Initially, it was marketed as a substitute for chicken feed, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The candy’s layered, three-color design, combined with the limitations of production technology at the time, made manufacturing challenging. Production typically begins in late August and continues through the fall, as noted by the National Confectioners Association.

Around the turn of the 20th century, Goelitz Confectionery, now known as Jelly Belly Candy Company, began selling candy corn. While they didn’t invent it, they are recognized for significantly increasing production and popularizing it as a Halloween candy.

Approximately 35 million pounds of candy corn are produced each year, according to the Farmers’ Almanac. Despite its prevalence, it remains a divisive treat. One Reddit user expressed their enthusiasm, stating, “It’s the only other candy I would hope for aside from Reese’s pieces if I was trick-or-treating.”

Another fan admitted to enjoying the candy, but only in small quantities due to its sweetness. Conversely, another Reddit user declared, “It’s disgusting. Tastes like nothing or chalk and never sweet. Don’t like the texture. Don’t like the color.”

Recently, Brach’s, a major candy corn manufacturer, expanded beyond the edible realm. The company launched a limited-edition perfume, “Ode to Candy Corn,” described by its parent company, Ferrara, as capturing the scent of the iconic candy.