Sweet Beginnings

Circa 1876

The telephone was invented.  America celebrated its 100th birthday.  And in 2018, the Chase Candy Company celebrated its 100th birthday. Chase Candy Company was created leading to the invention of the beloved Cherry Mash. Dr. George Washington, at the urging of his son, Ernest, made his first batch of candy and sold it among wholesale items in his G.W. Chase and Sons Mercantile storefront.  This was the beginning of Chase becoming known throughout the Midwest for its fine-quality peanut candies and hand-dipped chocolates.

Cherry Mash Is Born

Circa 1918

The very first Cherry Mash was concocted in St. Joseph,  Missouri.  The candy was more than four ounces when it was first introduced and was sold unwrapped in a box.  Customers would often take the candy back to their business and put it in a glass candy display case.  

Cherry Mash is an American candy bar consisting of a soft, cherry-flavored center containing maraschino cherries.  It was originally called Cherry Chase and then Cherry Chaser before becoming known as Cherry Mash.

Chase Headquarters Is Built

Circa 1922

To accommodate Cherry Mash's growing popularity, Chase built a four-story plant in downtown St. Joseph .. Fifth Street at Sylvanie .. that employed more than 400 people.  One entire floor was designated to the chocolate dipping crew.

Chase Candy Turns 50

Circa 1926

After 50 years in business, Chase had made more than 500 different kinds of candies including an extensive line of candy bars.  Chase's famous mascot, the "Candy Cop" was prominently featured on most of the candy bar wrappers.  Cherry Mash was the most popular in its iconic red and white wrapper, a design that has remained the same since 1930.  The company wraps each Cherry Mash at a rate of up to 200 per minute.

"The only part of the process we'd ever rush."

The Great Depression

Circa 1930s

The Depression years of the 1930s hit the candy business especially hard.  If you had any money, you spent it on food for sustenance, not for your sweet tooth.  Chase Candy Company experienced a huge decrease in sales and profits and an extensive cutback in the number of candies it produced. 

Chase Candy Is Purchased

Circa 1940s

During WWII, sugar was rationed by F.S. Yantis and Company, which invested in several Pepsi bottling companies in the Midwest, purchased the Chase Candy Company.  By doing so, they acquired a large share of sugar rations to help keep the bottling companies operating.  Fewer kinds of candy were made in the late 40s and early 50s. 

Chase Candy Company

795 Hedding Street

San Jose, California

Circa 1952

The "Cherry Mash" Plant

Circa 1960s

In the early 1960s, Chase Candy Company moved to a different plant built in St. Joseph to exclusively produce Cherry Mash because it was in such high demand. 

Chase Candy Today

Circa 2005-Present

Chase Candy Company continues to operate in St. Joseph, the city where Cherry Mash was first created 100 years ago.  The company functions out of a new, purpose-built candy factory that opened in 2005. 

Candy Mash Production Data

200,000 pounds of peanuts per year.  200,000 pounds of chocolate coating per year 30,000. And 30,000 pounds of cherries per year. 

And for those of you familiar with The Gooch seen on FB whose slogan is

"If I can do this, you can do this."

"First time trying this and now I'm hooked."