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Tootsie: Still on a Roll
For well over a century, there has been a unique chocolatey taffy that is the jewel in the crown of what can only be described as a candy empire. The Tootsie Roll paved the way for the Tootsie brand to grow into a huge family that includes countless iconic and exciting American candies.
The Tootsie story started in New York City, way back in 1896. Leo Hirshfield ran a franchised sweet shop that was owned by Stern & Staalberg, in which he made and sold candies. The son of an Austrian sweet maker, he created plenty of sweets – but his biggest invention was a chocolate sweet that wouldn’t melt on his shelves. It was this one that would change everything.
Named after his daughter, who he nicknamed Tootsie, the Tootsie Roll was a massive hit. Customers had never seen anything like it before. This was the first soft and chewy chocolate treat and it was the hottest new candy on the market. It was officially named and patented in early 1908, at which point Stern & Staalberg began the first marketing push for the Tootsie Roll.
In the years that followed, the Tootsie Roll’s popularity continued to grow. As they continued to win admirers across America, they also gained a very famous fan in Frank Sinatra. He appeared in a Tootsie advertisement in the 1940s, along with Peggy Lipp, and was said to be such a big fan of the chocolate chews that he was buried with them!
The brand has also had some famous faces in house, too. Captain Tootsie was a superhero who appeared in a series of comic strip advertisements. He made his debut in 1943 and would always eat a Tootsie Roll to help him overcome his foes. Not only was he used in advertisements, but there were also two volumes of Captain Tootsie’s own comic books! In 1970, the company debuted Mr Owl in a TV commercial, in which he tried to find out just how many licks it takes to get to the Tootsie Roll centre of a Tootsie Pop. The curious bird is still around today, now part of the Tootsie Pop Squad who are still trying to make it to the centre without biting.
The chocolate taffy also has long-standing links with the American military. In the 1940s they were part of field rations given to soldiers on the battlefield. There’s also an interesting story that involves soldiers chewing them up and using them to fix frozen and cracked fuel lines.
Alongside their classic lines, the range of Tootsie treats has grown to include Fruit Chews and Midgees, which are fruit-flavoured and mini versions of the original bar. Tons of hugely popular American candy brands, such as Charleston Chew, Junior Mints and Junior Caramels, have also joined the Tootsie Roll Industries family over the years.
More than a century after its inception, the humble Tootsie Roll is still in a class of its own. The chewy treat is a chocolatey delight, and there’s a Tootsie Roll for every occasion. Shoppers will see the classic bar as a perfect treat, whilst the Midgees and Minis are an ideal inclusion if you’re thinking of putting together American sweet hampers or shaker cups. Whether you run an American candy shop or want to try some stock that’s trending right now, Tootsie Rolls will be received with a smile. Britain is full of chocoholics so there’s no question about it!
Here at Hancocks we’re specialist American sweet wholesalers, bringing you the best products and exclusive brands such as Red Vines, Sour Punch and you guessed it, Tootsie! American candy lines are popular right now, and if you stock up with Hancocks, you can rest assured that you’re getting legitimate products – as well as exclusive brands you can’t get anywhere else in the UK! We ensure that every product complies with the required food legislation it needs to so it can go on sale in Britain. Once they’ve arrived with us, we ensure that every American line is totally legal and ready for your shelves. So, you can trust that any stateside treats you pick up from Hancocks will be hassle-free – just like all of our other bulk sweets!
