History of Kerr’s Candy

Kerr's, a long-standing confectionery company in Canada, is renowned for its production of traditional Canadian candy. The company was established in 1895 by Edward and Albert Kerr, two Scottish brothers who immigrated to Canada. Initially, they opened a prosperous candy shop and bakery in St. Thomas, Ontario. After three years, the Kerr brothers sold the bakery and relocated their business to Brantford, Ontario, just outside Hamilton.

In Brantford, the Kerrs expanded their operations and set up six confectionery factories, where they manufactured a wide range of candies and chocolates. In 1904, Kerr's began marketing their first foil-wrapped candies and later moved their headquarters to Toronto, aiming to be closer to their primary suppliers. It was during this time that they also started producing foil-wrapped chocolate bar confections.

During World War II, Kerr's introduced their own version of molasses candy. Additionally, the company achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first in North America to create "Light No Sugar Added" candy using the polydextrose and sucralose recipe. Furthermore, Kerr's was among the pioneers in Canada to produce lollipops.

While Kerr's expanded its presence globally in 1907, it eventually withdrew from the US market in 1957. Nevertheless, the company has been successfully selling its toffees, mints, and lollipops within Canada for over a century. By the 1960s, Kerr's Candy had phased out the sale of chocolates, focusing on their expertise: candies with crinkling wrappers.

For more than 125 years, Kerr's Candy has delighted Canadians with a variety of beloved treats, including Lollipops, Caramels, Butterscotch, Scotch Mints, Striped Mints, Toffee, Fruit Drops, and charming little strawberry candies.
History of Kerr’s Candy