Intellectual Property Insights from Fishman Stewart
Mini Article – Volume 25, Issue 20
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National Candy Corn Day – The Scariest Day of the Year
By Kristyn Webb
For as long as there have been car seats, candy corn has found its way behind and under them every fall, like hibernating animals fleeing the cold. Originally called “chicken feed” and paired with the tagline “something to crow about” alongside a rooster on the logo, candy corn has been with us since the 1800s. Before World War I, corn itself was considered mostly as a food for livestock. But agricultural themed candies were common during this era, due to the large numbers of Americans working on farms.
Legend has it that George Renninger, an employee at Wunderle Candy Company in Philadelphia, invented the process for producing this Halloween staple in the 1880’s. Each layer was hand poured, which meant the process was labor intensive, but the resulting product stood out compared to the more predominant mono-colored competition. In 1898, the Goelitz Candy Company (now the Jelly Belly Candy Company) saw an opportunity in Renninger’s creation and bought his recipe.
Currently, the largest producer of candy corn is Brach’s, with at least 30 million pounds of this culturally iconic candy being made in the United States every year.
Dislike it or hate it, candy corn is a permanent fixture now, with a variety of flavors available during every major holiday. From caramel apples to hot dogs and green beans, candy corn will likely outlive us all.
October 30 is National Candy Corn Day. Please observe a moment of silence for all candy corn abandoned in sofa cushions and car seats.
Kristyn Webb is the Group Leader of Fishman Stewart’s Copyright Practice Group and holds a master’s degree in Copyright Law from King’s College London.
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