1850-1899
1854 The first packaged box of Whitman's chocolate debuts.
1868 Richard Cadbury introduces the first Valentine's Day box of chocolates.
1884 Thomas Adams creates Black Jack, America's first flavored gum.
1880s Wunderle Candy Co. of Philadelphia creates candy corn.
1893 William Wrigley Jr. introduces Juicy Fruit gum and Wrigley's Spearmint gum.
1896 Tootsie Rolls debut, introduced by Leo Hirshfield of New York, who names them after his daughter's nickname, "Tootsie."
1900
1900 Milton S. Hershey of Lancaster, Pa., introduces the first Hershey milk-chocolate bar.
1901 The King Leo pure peppermint-stick candy is developed; still in production today.
1901 NECCO wafers first appear; an acronym of the New England Confectionery Co.
1902 NECCO makes the first conversation hearts.
1905 The Squirrel Brand Co. of Massachusetts creates the first peanut bar.
1906 Hershey's Kisses chocolates appear in their familiar foil wraps.
1910
1912 Life Savers intro-duced in peppermint flavor.
1912 The Whitman's Sampler box of chocolates is born, the first boxed chocolates to include an index showing the filling in each candy.
1913 Goo Goo Clusters, a Southern favorite, is the first bar to combine milk chocolate, caramel, marshmallow and peanuts.
1920
1920 The Baby Ruth candy bar
1921 Chuckles — colorful, sugared jelly candies
1923 Mounds, the double candy bar
1923 The Mars Milky Way Bar is the first candy from the Mars family.
1925 Bit-O-Honey
1926 Milk Duds
1928 Crunchy Heath Bars
1928 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
1930
1930 M&M/Mars introduces the Snickers Bar, today's No.1 selling candy bar in the United States
1931 Tootsie Roll Pops offers "two candies in one."
1931 Valomilk is created at Sifers Candy Co.
1932 Red Hots are made by Ferrara Pan Candy Co.
1932 3 Musketeers Bar first features chocolate, vanilla and strawberry nougat.
1936 The 5th Avenue Bar is originated by William H. Luden, the cough drop king.
1939 Hershey's Miniatures chocolate bars
1940
1941 M&M's chocolate candies are introduced in response to slack chocolate sales during the summer.
1949 Junior Mints
1949 Smarties small candy disks
1949 El Bubble Bubble Gum Cigars are the first 5 cent bubble gum.
1950
1954 Marshmallow Peeps are introduced by Just Born Inc.
1950 Bob's Candy Canes, sold under the Cris Cringle brand, are introduced nationwide.
1957 The Emerson Drug Co. invents Fizzies.
1960
1960 M&M/Mars Starburst Fruit Chews are introduced.
1960 Blammo becomes the first sugar-free, soft bubble gum introduced by Amurol Confections.
1960s Lemonheads are created by Ferrara Pan Candy Co.
1963 SweeTarts
1970
1976 Jelly Belly jelly beans offer unique flavors from the Herman Goelitz Candy Co.
1978 Hershey's Reese's Pieces
1979 TWIX Caramel Cookie Bars
1980
1980 Goelitz introduces the first American-made gummy bears and gummy worms.
1981 Skittles bite-size candies are introduced in the United States.
1990-2000
1992 DOVE Dark Chocolate Bar and DOVE Milk Chocolate Bar introduced nationally by M&M/MARS.
1994 Blitz Power Mints are one of several strong mints introduced in the 1990s.
1994 STARBURST jelly beans introduced by M&M/MARS
1998 Holopops become the first hologram lollipops introduced by Light Vision Confections.
1999 Sound Bites Lollipops from Cap Candies is the first radio-lollipop combination.
2001 M&M's Dulce de Leche Caramel Chocolate Candies tap into growing Latino market.