Initially, Edward personally delivered the candy to grocery stores across the United States using his car. To underscore the importance of education, he named the candy Smarties and expanded the venture, ultimately establishing a family-operated factory in Union.
In 1959, Edward relocated operations to Elizabeth, New Jersey, and in 1967, to the current Union location. On January 1, 2011, the company underwent a name change to Smarties Candy Company.
Edward expanded his candy enterprise to Canada by founding Ce De Candy, Ltd. in 1963. Initially based on Queen Street in Toronto, the operation later moved to a new facility in Newmarket, Ontario, in 1988. This Canadian branch primarily manufactures Smarties® and "Rockets®," with Smarties imported to the U.S. when demand exceeds the capacity of the New Jersey factory.
During the 1970s, Edward Dee's sons, Jonathan and Michael, joined the business, introducing new product lines like sour-flavored Smarties, larger-sized Smarties, and Smarties Candy Necklaces.
Presently, Smarties is under the leadership of Dee's granddaughters: sisters Liz Dee and Jessica Dee Sawyer, alongside their cousin Sarah Dee. The manufacturing process has evolved with the integration of robotic automation technology, utilizing forklifts, conveyors, and robotic arms to optimize candy production efficiency.
Smarties Candy Company History
