America’s largest and perhaps oldest chocolate company

One of America’s largest and perhaps oldest chocolate companies was Whitman’s.  Set up in 1842 by a young Philadelphia man, it first became popular with travelling sailor who visited his waterfront shop.  Those same sailors often brought Mr. Whitman fruits, nuts and cocoa from their trips and he would sometimes incorporate them into his chocolates.

The perennial popular and still best selling Whitman’s Sampler was introduced in 1912.  Then in the early 1960s the company was purchased by Pet, Inc. and subsequently acquired in 1978 by IC Industries.  Finally in 1993 Russell Stover, a major US candy supplier , acquired the Whitman’s brand.

This is a vintage 1950s Whitmans Sampler advertisement for the Sampler with the words.. “It’s time to remember the way to Her heart“.

And the price of a pound of chocolates from Whitman in those days?  A mere $2.00

I’m Tom Murphy and thanks for helping me give Ephemera the Encore it deserves.