Who We Are

Spangler 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.

Arthur’s brother, Ernest Spangler, joins the company and suggests adding candy to the line.

The business moves to its present location on N. Portland Street in Bryan, Ohio.

Third brother, Omar Spangler, joins the business and brings mechanical & bookkeeping knowledge.

All products manufactured at the company are candy, so the name is changed from Spangler Manufacturing Company to Spangler Candy Company.

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.

A candy jobbing business and retail store is opened in Maumee, Ohio.

On June 10, 1939, the worst summer storm in Bryan, Ohio’s, history swept through the north and west part of the city. Estimated damages were between $5,000 and $10,000 to the Spangler Candy Company. However, two days later, Spangler Candy resumed manufacturing operations and making shipments as the damages were being repaired.

Spangler created marshmallow Circus Peanuts, its version of a popular penny candy, in 1940.

Marshmallow Topping was a big item for Spangler Candy.

Arthur Spangler, along with three other prominent citizens of Bryan, Ohio, drowns in Snow Lake, Indiana, while fishing.

By 1947, the second generation of Spanglers joins the company.

Dum-Dums® is acquired from Akron Candy Company in Bellevue, Ohio.

A-Z Christmas Candy Canes is purchased from Detroit, Michigan.

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.

The first union contract with Toledo Local 20 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters is signed.

The Spangler Candy Dum-Dums Drum Man was born in April 1966. He was developed by the Howard Swink Advertising Agency of Marion, Ohio.

Saf-T-Pops® purchased from Curtiss Candy Company in Chicago, Illinois.

C. Gregory Spangler, third generation family member, becomes President.

Astro Pops® acquired from Nellson Candy Company in Los Angeles, California.

Spangler sells its subsidiary distributorship, Spangler Candy & Tobacco of Toledo to concentrate on manufacturing candy.

Suck An Egg and Save-A-Sucker bought from Innovative Confections in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Dean L. Spangler, third generation family member, becomes President.

Spangler establishes an internet presence at www.spanglercandy.com.

Spangler’s first in-house company newsletter, the Confection Connection, is published.

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.

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.

Spangler/Imagination Confections® markets Disney candies.

Spangler Candy establishes the Spangler Foundation to honor the 2nd generation; provides community funds and scholarships for local area students.

The Spangler Candy Company Store & Museum opens in late December.

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 participate in the event.

The 100 year book, “A Sweet Century” is published.

In June, the Spangler Fulfillment Center begins operation as a distribution center for Save Wraps for Stuff and website items.

Spangler sells its chocolate business to Key III Candies of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Kirkland B. Vashaw, fourth generation family member, becomes president.

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.

Dum-Dums becomes #1 lollipop in late 2011 per IRI scan data.

Spangler Candy completes its 82nd factory addition, which includes new bagging, case packout and palletizing equipment.

Kirk Vashaw is appointed chairman and CEO at the retirement of Dean Spangler. Later, William G. Martin is appointed president & CFO and is the first person outside of the family to serve as president. Kirkland B. Vashaw remains CEO.

The Spangler Fulfillment Center moves into newly expanded space in the Spangler Candy warehouse.

Spangler Candy purchases the adjacent 20-acre facility owned by New Era Ohio LLC, providing additional warehouse for future growth.

Spangler acquires three iconic candy brands – Necco® Wafers, Sweethearts® and Canada Mints®- from the New England Confectionery Company (NECCO) bankruptcy.

Spangler Candy acquires the Bit-O-Honey® brand from Pearson Candy in November 2020.

Spangler Candy World, an interactive museum, large-screen theater factory tour, and retail store, opens in downtown Bryan in December 2023. Kirk Vashaw remains CEO.