Jolly Rancher

Jolly Rancher is a hallmark of American confections. It's hard to think about hard candies and not imagine the various flavors and styles Jolly Rancher has introduced through the years. Their story starts back in Golden, Colorado, just after World War II. Bill Harmsen sold ice cream, chocolate, and of course candies at Ranch Maid Ice Cream stores in the area. While the chocolates and ice cream didn't stand the test of time, the candies sure did. Soon enough they were in stores everywhere. Harmsen sold his business in 1966, and Jolly Rancher sold again after that before ending up under the Hershey umbrella in 1996. Hershey took the grape, apple, fire stix, cherry, orange, tangerine, lemon, and apple candies and took them to a new level. There are now Jolly Rancher gummies, lollipops, gelatin desserts, and sodas. But the tried and true hard candies still drive the brand, and remain one of the most popular varieties in America.

• Wrapped Candy
• Jelly Belly
• Hershey's