Ganong Bros., Limited is

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

's oldest candy company. It was founded by

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and

Gilbert Ganong Gilbert White Ganong (May 22, 1851 – October 31, 1917) was a Canadian politician, the 14th Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick and co-founder of Ganong Bros. Limited, candy makers in the town of St. Stephen. Born in Springfield, New ...

in 1873 in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, where it remains. Primarily a producer of boxed chocolates and the first to introduce heart-shaped boxes, it now provides many chocolates for

Laura Secord Laura Secord ( Ingersoll; 13 September 1775 – 17 October 1868) was a Canadian heroine of the War of 1812. She is known for having walked out of American-occupied territory in 1813 to warn British forces of an impending American atta ...

stores.

History

Ganong Bros. Limited has been one of the Canadian chocolate industry's most important companies. Arthur Ganong was the first to make any sort of a wrapped chocolate bar; Ganong began

selling Sales are activities related to selling or the number of goods sold in a given targeted time period. The delivery of a service for a cost is also considered a sale. The seller, or the provider of the goods or services, completes a sale in r ...

the first chocolate bars in 1910. In 1920 they began using the

brand name A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's good or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create an ...

" Pal-o-Mine" for their chocolate bar. The company also was the first to introduce a heart-shaped box of chocolates in North America. The heart-shaped boxes were originally used for presents over the Christmas season before it also succeeded around

Valentine's Day Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and, thr ...

. In 1911, Ganong Bros. purchased the bankrupt White Candy Company in

Saint John, New Brunswick Saint John is a seaport city of the Atlantic Ocean located on the Bay of Fundy in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. Saint John is the oldest incorporated city in Canada, established by royal charter on May 18, 1785, during the reign of K ...

and operated a factory there until 1931. In 1988, due to the rising costs of production, a plant was built in

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, due to lower labor costs and the close proximity to raw ingredients, and equipment from the St. Stephen factory was shipped there. The majority of the products from this factory is shipped to Canada. In 1990, a new factory was opened on Chocolate Drive, St. Stephen and continues to produce to this day. The old factory eventually became the Chocolate Museum.

Today

In 2008, for the first time in its history, Ganong selected a president and CEO from outside the family. Doug Ettinger, who had been a senior executive in the food industry for 20 years, was approved by the Ganong board of directors as the top executive of Canada’s oldest candy company. In 2015, the first female CEO was appointed: Bryana Ganong, part of the fifth generation of Ganongs. David Ganong maintains an advisory role on the company’s board and remains the controlling shareholder. Company heads * James H. Ganong, co-founder * Gilbert W. Ganong, co-founder * Arthur D. Ganong, president 1917–1957 * R. Whidden Ganong, president 1957–1977 * David A. Ganong, president 1977–2008 * Doug Ettinger, president 2008 to 2012 * David A. Ganong, president 2012 –2014 * Bryana Ganong, president 2014 to present

Chocolate Museum

Ganong's long history is showcased at its Chocolate Museum (Fr:''Le Musée du Chocolat'') which opened in 1999 in their old factory building in St. Stephen, New Brunswick. Exhibits describe the Ganong brothers and the company, and include hands-on and interactive displays about the process of making chocolate and candies historically and currently, and a display of historic chocolate boxes and antique candy-making equipment. Visitors can also taste chocolate samples. The building also houses the Ganong Chocolatier company store. In conjunction with the community, the museum co-hosts the annual St. Stephen Chocolate Festival, which has been held since 1985. In 2000 the town was registered as "Canada's Chocolate Town".

Products

*''Chicken Bone''—Created in 1885. Dark chocolate surrounded by cinnamon flavored candy. *''Delecto''—Created in 1917. Boxed chocolates. *''Hillcrest''—"Nearly Perfect" assorted chocolates and chocolate cherries. An economy brand of chocolates. *'' Pal-o-Mine'', a soft fudge, coconut and peanut bar covered in dark chocolate introduced in 1920 and still being made today, is Ganong's oldest product. *''Red Wrap''—Originally, a 5 lb box of assorted milk and dark chocolates. Usually available during the

Christmas season The Christmas season or the festive season (also known in some countries as the holiday season or the holidays) is an annually recurring period recognized in many Western and other countries that is generally considered to run from late November ...

. Originally named "Ganong's Best" (GB), the nickname "Red Wrap" (due to the red packaging) was officially adopted as the name in the 2000s (decade). *'' Sunkist''—Since 1997, Ganong is the official licensee for Sunkist fruit products.

References

* Craigs, Melodie. ''Ganong, The Candy Family'' (1984) Literacy Council of Fredericton * Folster, David. ''The Chocolate Ganongs of St. Stephen, New Brunswick'' (1991)

Goose Lane Editions Goose Lane Editions is a Canadian book publishing company founded in 1954 in Fredericton, New Brunswick as Fiddlehead Poetry Books by Fred Cogswell and a group of students and faculty from the University of New Brunswick associated with ''The F ...

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