The History of Todds Bag Candy

McKeesport Candy Co. boasts several notable achievements, and one that often goes unrecognized is our pioneering role as the first wholesale candy company to provide candy under a private label.

After all this time, the brand's history is as delightful as it is somewhat unclear. It's an unfortunate reality that details can be lost over the span of nine decades.

In the 1950s, Gerald Prince, the 2nd generation owner, had a brainstorm.

Inspired by children putting unwrapped penny candy in small bags, he thought it would be a novel idea to create our own bag of prepacked candy.

Initially, the selection targeted only children and went by the name Todd's Kiddie Favorites. However, as the range of products grew to include more than just children's treats, the brand was aptly renamed Todd's Candy during the 1960s.

In the early 1950s, prior to joining his father Ernest Prince at McKeesport Candy Co., Gerald Prince was in the armed forces. He was stationed at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, where he spent a significant portion of his service as a chemist as well as at the Tooele Ordnance Depot.

Our family has long suspected that 'Todds' might be an acronym, but this remains a matter of speculation.

And so, the mystery continues…..

In 1955, he celebrated the birth of his first child, Bradley Todd Prince. Adding an interesting twist, he also owned an apartment building located on Todd Street in Pittsburgh, PA.

We also had a long-term employee whose tenure was over thirty years who managed our bagging operation. Her childhood nickname was... Todd!

For over sixty years, our bagged candy line has been thriving, and it was in 2010 that we decided to rename it Candy Favorites, a title that represents our expanding brand.

Gerald Prince passed away in 2018, leaving behind the enduring legacy of our bag candy line and so much more. The origin of its name, however, continues to be an intriguing mystery.

Despite a name change, the quality of the candy and Gerald's enduring legacy of innovation in the candy industry have remained until this day.