Every Christmas morning since 1873, Canadian children have been delighted to find Ganong chocolates and candies in their stockings. Santa's one of Ganong's best customers. Every year, he buys thousands of candies from the company to use as stocking stuffers.
It all started back in 1873, when James and Gilbert started their candy making experiments. One of their first inventions was the "chicken bone" - a cinnamon-flavored, pink, hard candy jacket over a chocolate centre. The candy got its name from its shape. It is still popular today.
In 1884, James and Gilbert decided to split their partnership. James decided to open a soap factory. Gilbert stayed with the candy business and continued to call it Ganong Bros. By 1889, the company was manufacturing penny candy and lozenges. In 1906, Ganong Bros. introduced the wrapped chocolate bar. The milk chocolate bar was first available to the public in 1910.
In the early 20th century, people began to purchase a lot of candy and sweets. Ganong Bros. was a busy place. Then, several fires broke out due to the method they used to make the candy. The company changed the way the candy was processed (made). Because they were constantly looking for ways to improve production, they were far ahead of their competitors (other companies that made candy).
Arthur Ganong, son of James, became the manager of the company in 1917. From then until 1930, the company grew stronger. In 1925, their best seller was a chocolate and peppermint bar called, "Pepts."
In 1930, there were 700 employees working at the St. Stephen plant. Most of them were women. But, the 1929 stock market crash had sent the world plummeting into the Great Depression. No one was buying chocolate or sweets. Ganong began to struggle. It hung on through the Depression and continued to sell its products around the world.
In 1989, because of the demand in Asia for chocolate, Ganong Bros. opened a factory in Bangkok, Thailand. Today, that factory has closed. Ganong Bros. has offices in Moncton, Toronto and Vancouver. Its head office remains in St. Stephen. It is not as big as it once was. It now employs approximately 250 workers.
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