The
Oh Henry Bar is a straightforward, delicious candy bar with a somewhat complicated history. As opposed to Snickers that was named after Forrest Mars' beloved racehorse, no one is 100% certain where the name for Oh Henry came from.
Theories abound but one thing that almost everyone agrees upon is that this is a delicious candy bar and has been for close to 100 years. And no, this candy bar is not named after the baseball great Hank Aaron.
Spark your curiosity? Read on…
Lore has it that the name was derived from that of a randy young man who made frequents visits to the original manufacturers – the Williamson company – less for sugary sweets and more to flirt with the eye candy who worked on the assembly line. This leaves us to assume that the young man’s name was -- you guessed it -- Henry. But certain proof eludes us.
Perhaps a more credible theory is that the candy bar was named after the owner of the now defunct Peerless Candy company. The owner's name was Tom Henry and in a vainglorious move, created the Tom Henry Bar. It was a short-lived venture as he sold the rights to the candy bar in 1920 to the Williamson Candy who changed the name to Oh Henry.
Oh Henry was also one of the first examples of “guerilla marketing” as an employee of Williamson Candy Company was determined to make the Oh Henry Bar famous. Lacking the funds to launch a full frontal Madison Avenue advertising campaign, this wily salesman had bumper stickers printed with only two words – Oh Henry. Curiousity didn’t kill the cat and this candy bar quickly made a name for itself.
The candy bar is also sold in Canada but distributed by Hershey with the difference being a "chocolately" coating as opposed to milk chocolate.
Things remained much the same for close to 65 years until 1984, when
Nestle acquired the rights to distribute Oh Henry in the United States but, alas, not everything lasts forever.
In 2018, Nestle sold the rights to Ferrara Pan and the candy bar has curiously disappared from the shelves. As of October 2019, it has not been confirmed that these beloved candy icon has been discontinued. Stay tuned...
65 years old now, and Old Henry has been my favorite candy bar since I was a boy. We have been having trouble finding them lately so I have been enjoying my second favorite candy bar called Baby Ruth.
Found the Oh Henry bars in a fun size bag of candy containing Baby Ruths and Butterfingers, so they still exist as over November 2019!
I have been told throughout the years that it was my grandfather that invented the candy bar in his small candy shop which was done by experimentation. He sold the nameless candy bar in his shop for several years. Now here is where l loose how it came to be that he sold the recipe to someone who later got it patented and made a name for himself. I live by this story as it has been told to me and family members for years. I heard it straight from my grandfather’s mouth. He and a friend opened a candy store and made candy in the back for sometime before selling the recipie. Once again l am unsure how the sale came about or when and how. I’m sure l was told but do not remember the pertaintant details at my tender age of 60 plus years.
HHlm. In Canada we have a limited time Oh Henry that is basically a naked one. Just peanuts rolled around a caramel log. It’s called Oh Henry 4:25 and it’s marketed as for recreational hunger to tie in with decriminalization of marijuana. Comes in a greeny package. Quite salty.
My sad story is Nestle’s in Burlington produced it in their plant. I work on the line it was made on. Farrara bought out the snacks sections of Nestle’s and discontinued the line of my favorite Oh Henry bar! As of May 2019! Sad day for me I would love to eat the Oh Henry “naked” without chocolate! Peanut allergies are a severely high priority to Nestle’s and the Goobers that are also made at this plant need to move to are other sister plant that produce Baby Ruth and Butterfingers,. Nestle’s goal is to be number one in Toll House Morsels! Enjoy!