History of the Tootsie Roll

Tootsie Roll is a brand of chewy candy manufactured from an ersatz form of chocolate that has been manufactured in the United States since 1896. The manufacturer, Tootsie Roll Industries, is based in Chicago Illinois.In 1896 its founder Leo Hirshfield, an Austrian Immigrant to the United States, started his candy business in a small shop located in New York City. He wanted a "chocolate" candy that would not melt easily in the heat, and would be an economical artificial alternative to traditional chocolates. He named the candy after the nickname of his daughter, Clara "Tootsie" Hirshfield. By 1905, production moved to a five-story factory. In 1917 the name of the company was changed to The Sweets Company of America, and the business became a listed company in 1922. In 1931 the Tootsie Pop—a lollipop with Tootsie Roll filling—was invented. Its low price made it popular in the Depression Era. During World War II Tootsie Rolls became a standard part of American soldiers' field rations, due to the hardiness of the candy under a variety of environmental conditions

Leo Hirschfeld

In 1896, Leo Hirshfield immigrated to America, carrying with him the secret recipe for sweet success. What he began making in his a little store in New York City, was the hard, chewy chocolate candy known far and wide as the Tootsie Roll, which took its name from Hirshfield's nickname for his daughter, Tootsie. One of the original "penny candies", it became an instant hit, so much so, that Hirshfield had to move from his store to a four-story factory in 1905. By 1917, it had spawned the Sweets Company of America, and five years later would be listed on the New York stock exchange, all because of a chocolate roll.Today, TRI has absorbed a number of other well-known American candy makers and produces more than the popular chocolate treats. But those are still high on its priorities, with the plants churning out some 60 million Tootsie Rolls a day, and 20 million Tootsie Pops.