Fannie May

History

Henry Teller Archibald opened the first Fannie May shop in 1920 at 11 North LaSalle Street in Chicago, selling buttercream candies. During the Second World War, some ingredients became scarce, but the company did not alter its recipes or the quality of its candies. In the mid-1980s, the first store in Missouri opened, and by the end of the decade more than 250 locations operated, mostly in the Midwest. In 1992, the Archibald Candy Company acquired chocolatier Fanny Farmer and its 200 northeastern retail stores as a sister brand.

This acquisition proved too much for Archibald, which filed for bankruptcy and closed over 200 retail stores. The bankruptcy was blamed on an errant path of mergers and acquisitions that made the company the largest candy retailer chain in the country without adequate financing or a viable corporate strategy. In 2004, Alpine Confections purchased Archibald out of receivership, merged Fanny Farmer into Fannie May, and moved production to its own Harry London Candies in Green, Ohio.

Fannie May reopened in October 2004 with 45 retail outlets. In April 2006, it was sold for $85 million plus an earnout to 1-800-Flowers.com, while manufacturing remained in Ohio and headquarters stayed in Chicago. In March 2017, Ferrero SpA bought Fannie May and Harry London from 1-800-Flowers.com for $115 million, indicating a hope to expand beyond its regional market.

Did You Know?

• During World War II, the company refused to change its recipes or lower candy quality despite ingredient shortages.
• The Pixie, introduced in 1946, remains the company's most popular candy.