Mary Jane (candy)
 | |
 Mary Jane candies | |
| Product type | Candy |
|---|---|
| Owner | Atkinson Candy Company |
| Country | United States |
| Introduced | 1914 |
| Markets | North America |
| Previous owners |
|
Mary Jane is an old-fashioned peanut butter- and molasses-flavored taffy-type candy.
History
In the 1800s, molasses was a popular confectionery ingredient for making taffy, with many candy companies situated in and around Boston, Massachusetts, then a major port in the molasses trade. These included the New England Confectionery Company (better known as Necco} in Cambridge, the Austin T. Merrill Company in Roxbury, and Charles H. Miller and Sons who began operating out of the former North End residence of Paul Revere starting in 1884.[1] in 1914, Charles H. Miller's son, Charles N. Miller, developed the formula for a taffy-like candy that mixed peanut butter into the molasses for a softer texture than earlier candies.[2] Miller chose to call his candy "Mary Jane," citing that it was the name of his favorite aunt while also choosing a cartoon mascot who resembled a character of the same name that appeared in the popular Buster Brown comic strip at that time. Mary Janes were wrapped in yellow wax paper brandished with a single red stripe and originally sold as penny candies under the slogan, “Use your change for Mary Janes.”[3] The Mary Jane Logo—a cartoon girl clad in a yellow dress a bonnet and yellow dress with the candy's name emblazoned across the hem—has remained in tact since the product's inception.[4]
Inn 1989, the Wisconsin-based Stark Candy Company acquired Miller's holdings and began producing Mary Janes until Stark was bought out by Necco in 2008, effectively returning the candy's production to Massachusetts.,[5] When Necco filed for bankruptcy in 2018, the company's various brands were auctioned off a la carte and no buyer was immediately found for Mary Janes.[6][7] Necco's purchaser, Spangler Candy Company, thus retained rights to the Mary Jane brand had no plans to make the candy. In 2019, the Atkinson Candy Company entered a licensing agreement with Spangler and renewed production of Mary Janes starting in 2020.[8]
In popular culture
Mary Jane candies, and their cartoon mascot, are featured in Toni Morrison’s 1970 novel, The Bluest Eye.[4]
References
- ^ Mary Jane makes a sweet comeback Retrieved October 18,2020
- ^ Johnson, Sarah Wassberg (October 27, 2020). "The Real Story Behind the "Gross" Black and Orange Halloween Taffy". The Food Historian. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ Garner, Nicole (29 October 2015). "The Revolutionary Story Behind Mary Jane Candies". Mental Floss. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ a b T, Eric (16 February 2015). "What Are Mary Janes Candies?". Culinary Lore. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "NECCO Candy Company History Timeline". Feb 7, 2019. Retrieved Oct 14, 2020.
- ^ Rosenberg, Eli. "Necco wafer factory abruptly shuts down after company is sold to unknown buyer". Retrieved Oct 14, 2020 – via www.washingtonpost.com.
- ^ Emily Petsko (March 22, 2019). "Necco Wafers and Sweethearts Are Making a Comeback—Whether You Like It or Not". MentalFloss.com. Retrieved March 1, 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Atkinson to produce Mary Jane candies under agreement with Spangler Candy". candyindustry.com. Candy Industry. 2019-10-16. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
External links
- Mary Jane Archived 2020-06-16 at the Wayback Machine brand page at Atkinson Candy Company
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