Company Timeline
1906
Spangler Candy Company begins on August 20, 1906, when Arthur G. Spangler purchases the Gold Leaf Baking Company of Defiance, Ohio for $450 and moves it to 204 W. High Street in Bryan, Ohio. The new company is named Spangler Manufacturing Company, and produces baking soda, baking powder, corn starch, laundry starch, spices, and flavorings.
1908
Arthur's brother Ernest Spangler joins the company and suggests adding candy to the line. Candy would sell quickly.
1910
By 1910, the business outgrows its first location. Larger quarters are found at 205 S. Main Street in Bryan, Ohio.
1913
The business moves to its present location on N. Portland Street in Bryan, Ohio.
1914
Third brother Omar Spangler joins the business and brings mechanical & bookkeeping knowledge. Spangler now manufactures the following: Creme Peanut Clusters, Cocoanut Balls, Bryan Drops, hand dipped chocolates, chocolate bars, ice cream cones, soda pop and cough drops.
1920
All products manufactured at the company are candy, so the name is changed from Spangler Manufacturing Company to Spangler Candy Company.
1922
Hard candy equipment is purchased and stick candy is manufactured. One of the most successful hard candies is a penny apple sucker. The sticks are placed in by hand and the pop is sold unwrapped. Chocolate equipment is also purchased, which eliminates the need to hand dip the chocolate items. A variety of 60 products are being made and shipped.
1927
A candy jobbing business and retail store is opened in Maumee,Ohio.
1945
Arthur Spangler, along with three other prominent citizens of Bryan, Ohio, drowns in Snow Lake, Indiana, while fishing.
1946
The company is reorganized from a partnership to a corporation.
1947
By 1947, the second generation of Spanglers joins the company.
1953
Dum Dums from Akron Candy Co. of Bellevue, Ohio is purchased.
1954
A-Z Christmas Candy Canes of Detroit, Michigan is purchased.
1960
The first union contract with Toledo Local 20 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters is signed.
The second generation Spanglers now actively manage the company. Ted Spangler is president and sales manager. Harlan (Bun) Spangler is treasurer and financial officer. Norman Spangler is secretary and production manager. Frank Spangler is in purchasing and product design. Charles Spangler is transportation manager and in sales service. Albert Spangler manages the Toledo Wholesale operation. Ernest Spangler, now 80, continues as honorary chairman.
1966
The Spangler Candy Dum Dums Drum Man was born in April 1966. He was developed by the Howard Swink Advertising Agency of Marion, Ohio.
1978
C. Gregory Spangler, third generation member, becomes President.
Saf-T-Pops from Curtiss Candy Co. of Chicago, Illinois is purchased.
1990
Spangler sells its subsidiary distributorship, Spangler Candy & Tobacco of Toledo to concentrate on manufacturing candy.
1996
Dean L. Spangler, third generation member, becomes President.
Spangler establishes an internet presence with a web site at www.spanglercandy.com
1997
Dr. Irving, a capuchin monkey who likes Dum Dums, visits Spangler Candy and becomes "goodwill ambassador".
1998
Spangler's first company newsletter, the Confection Connection, is published.
1999
Spangler Candy becomes a founding member of the Candy Alliance, which consists of American Licorice, Ferrara Pan Candy Company, Goetze's Candy Company, Necco/Stark/Haviland, and Spangler Candy Company.
2001
The Save Wraps for Stuff Program returns along with a new kid-focused web site at www.dumdumpops.com.
Spangler enters into a co-manufacturing relationship with Sunrise Confections in Juarez, Mexico, to manufacture commodity candy canes.
An outside warehouse fire at Oberhaus, Enterprises, in Archbold, Ohio destroys 110,000 cases of Spangler products, mostly Dum Dums, with a value of $6.5 million dollars.
2004
The new parent/teacher/kid web site at www.saftpops.com debuts.
2005
Spangler Candy establishes the Spangler Foundation to honor the 2nd generation; provides community funds and scholarships for local area students.
The Spangler Company Store & Museum opens in late December.
2006
The dumdumpops.com web site, which debuted in 2001, re-opens its new and improved web site in February.
Spangler Candy kicks off its "Make Life a Little Sweeter" Contest in June, in which consumers can win cash and candy for their kind gestures.
Spangler Candy celebrates its 100th year with a gala celebration on August 19th, 2006. Customers, brokers, vendors, community leaders, employees, 25-Year Club members, and shareholders participated in the event. The 100 year book, "A Sweet Century" is published.
2007
In June, the Spangler Fulfillment Center begins operation as a distribution center for Save Wraps for Stuff and web site items.
2008
Kirkland B. Vashaw, fourth generation family member, becomes President.
2009
Dum Dums Facebook fan page is created in April and new Flick-A-Pop application goes live on iTunes in May.
2010
Saf-T-Pop and Circus Peanut Facebook fan pages are created in April, and Flick-A-Pop iPhone application goes over 1 milllion downloads in July.
Spangler updates its corporate web site in September followed by a new online Candy Store in December.
2011
The dumdumpops.com web site, which debuted in 2001, opens its new and improved web site in March.
Kirk Vashaw is elected President and CEO in July. He becomes the 7th chief executive in our 105 year history.
Ted Spangler, son of founder Arthur Spangler, and past director of sales, president, chief executive, and board chairman for Spangler Candy Company, dies at the age of 92 in September.
