Whitman’s is one of the largest and oldest brands of boxed chocolates in the United States. Whitman’s confections have been produced since 1842, originally by Stephen Whitman in Philadelphia and currently by Kansas City, Missouri-based Russell Stover Candies.
Whitman’s confections have been produced for over 175 years. Originally a “confectionery and fruiterer shoppe” set up in 1842 by 19-year-old Stephen F. Whitman on the Philadelphia waterfront, Whitman’s first became popular with traveling sailors and their wives. They would often bring imported fruits, nuts, and cocoa which were obtained during their voyages to Mr. Whitman so that he could make the popular European confections people craved in that era. Before long, Whitman’s chocolates were popular throughout the northeastern United States.
In 1877, Whitman’s introduced Instantaneous Chocolates in tin boxes, that became much-admired. Whitman’s later became Stephen F. Whitman & Son, Inc. Whitman’s introduced the Whitman’s Sampler in 1912, becoming the first use of cellophane by the candy industry. Thanks to its unique packaging and wartime support, Whitman’s was ubiquitous in stores. But the company didn’t stop there. Beginning in the 1950s, they struck deals with popular film stars of the era to endorse the candy in ads for The Saturday Evening Post.
The company, now owned by Russell-Stover, has reported that roughly a billion Whitman’s Sampler boxes have been sold since 1912. It also seems more than deserving of its romantic reputation: Those wartime messages to troops resulted in many long-term friendships and more than a few marriages.
According to mentalfloss.com; en.wikipedia.org. Source of photos: internet
