The Stark Candy Company, originally the Howard B. Stark Company, was a candy manufacturer founded in 1939, in

Milwaukee Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is ...

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

. It was a competitor to Necco and manufactured products including candy hearts, candy raisins,

Mary Janes Mary Jane (also known as bar shoes or doll shoes) is an American term ( formerly a registered trademark) for a closed, low-cut shoe with one or more straps across the instep. Classic Mary Janes for children are typically made of black leather ...

, peanut butter kisses, salt water taffy, and

candy cigarettes Candy cigarettes are a candy introduced in the late 19th century made out of chalky sugar, bubblegum or chocolate, wrapped in paper and packaged and branded so as to resemble cigarettes. Some products contain powdered sugar hidden in the wrapper ...

. Stark moved from Milwaukee to Pewaukee in 1960. In 1988, it was purchased by Necco. In 2008, Necco announced the Stark plant would close. Candy raisins were discontinued after the company was purchased by Necco, sparking a consumer backlash.

References

Confectionery companies of the United States Companies based in Wisconsin American companies established in 1939 Food and drink companies established in 1939 1939 establishments in Wisconsin 2008 disestablishments in Wisconsin Food and drink companies disestablished in 2008 1988 mergers and acquisitions {{Wisconsin-stub