Peerless Quality Confection Since 1914 - RIP
It came as a complete shock but effective 15 February,2007, one of America’s oldest candy manufacturers will be closing it’s doors leaving a void in the domestically produced bulk candy industry. Truth be told, few saw this coming and below is an excerpt from their letter as to the reasons as to why they are ceasing production…
January 12, 2007
TO OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS
We regret to announce that Peerless Confectionary Company, manufacturer of quality hard candies in Chicago, Illinois, since 1924, will cease operations effective April 30, 2007. Declining consumption of hard candy and the increasing prevalence of imports and offshore production are two major factors influencing our decision. To remain competitive in this environment would require us to move our facility offshore, which is not an option we are willing to consider. To do so would betray our tradition of quality and our commitment to our family of workers.
For 93 years Peerless has been proud to offer our customers the finest quality hard candies made in America. That tradition will continue until the last piece of candy is produced….”
While their candies will surely be missed, we have been told that there will be some marvelous condos available in the “former candy factory…”
It’s an interesting thought experiment to consider how much of their closing is truly due to the hard state of the candy biz these days, and how much of it is due to the financial benefits from selling the business to build these condos. Writing this from Pittsburgh it’s hard not to think of all of the amazing things here that have closed down and been turned into condos (the legendary rock club Laga comes quickly to mind), and Chicago is another city with a lot of history that’s suffering from the same sort of urban ennui. Whatever the motivation for Peerless Candy’s withdrawal, it’s a shame that another locally-owned company is throwing in the towel. And really, aren’t there enough luxury condos?
2)
February 15th, 2007 at 12:34 am
without a doubt the best root beer barrel that has ever been made
April 30th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
What a shame this is. As a former employee of the company, it is sad to this company go by the board. Not only the best Root Beer Barrel ever made, but hands down the best Starlight Mint ever made, anywhere.
PIR Peerless.
April 30th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
The best Starlight Mint ever made, anywhere, hands down.
As a former employee I can still remember the smell of peppermint oil drifting through the factory.
RIP Peerless, thanks for allowing me to start my career in the confectionery industry there.
July 24th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I just moved to Chicago, and i live near the factory. I am really sad to see this factory close. It makes me heartbroken to see this wonderful factory that produced so many amazing candies be turned into condos. Stupid.
August 6th, 2007 at 12:42 am
I also live on the train route…it’s a real shame to see Peerless close. I wish my nephew and niece got a chance to see the train coming through my parking lot.
August 9th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Just wanted to tell you I am so sorry to hear Peerless candy is out of business….They had the most delicious root beer floats candy I have ever had, and I shall miss them dearly.
September 6th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
That’s all folks….
Not only is it the end of a great candy company, but really the end of the Lakewood spur manufacturing district.
where oh where have all the jobs gone, oh where have they gone?
Trading American made goods and wealth for condos and chinese goods.
October 24th, 2007 at 7:08 am
I am simply heartbroken. Each year, I have waited in great anticipation of ordering Peerless’ delicious chocolate-filled straws, and this year I was going to add Chocolate-filled Sprig-o-mints to the order. Since the straws were only available during the Christmas season (Nov - Feb), I order enough to last the year. This time, when I sent my order in (I was later than usual) they order was processed. Days later, I received an email saying they were out of stock and didn’t know when they would have more. I thought I just missed the deadline by a day, but now I know they were probably already shutting down. I wish they had told me this, so I wouldn’t have been so anxious for November to get here. When I went to the website I have ordered them from and saw the notice that they had ceased operations, I was dumbfounded.
I can’t imagine never having this delightful candy again. I tried another company’s chocolate-filled straws once, but I didn’t like them.
Peerless, thank you so much for all the decades I enjoyed your candies. I will miss them dearly.
Best of luck in all you do.
November 24th, 2007 at 1:31 am
I am so sad to see Peerless go. I loved the root beer candies, but my favorites were those honey filled candies. I am glad to know that I am not the last lover of hard candies. If they want to sell equipment and recipe for the honey candies, I know a few of us bee keepers could get together and start marketing those. I would like to give it a go. Seems so sad to loose the tradition.
November 29th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Yes, Rich, Peerless Confection gave a start in candy life to many devoted employees. Our Peerless family was devastated by it’s closing operations, cause we truly were a big candy family and we were treated like a family. We will never forget the goodness of the owners and how many people they helped over 94 years in business. We thank them from the bottom of all our hearts for all they did for us till the very end. It is very sad to see such a wonderful company go but I guess it was time. However what I think it’s even sadder that only Rway Confections, Long Grove Confectionery and Georgia Nut and couple out of state candy companies offered jobs to ex-Peerless employees. Having so many chocolate and candy companies still in business in Chicago, it’s a shame that only those few extended helping hand to hard working, devoted and loyal ex-Peerless people. Peerless people - you were the best and I wish you good luck in all you do cause we really were Peerless in every way.
November 30th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
This is really bad news for Christmas candy traditionalists…the worst news since Brach’s stopped making alot of their oldtime hard candy (ie. those little pillows)due to overseas operations. The Black Walnut Chips are rare and priceless. The Vermont Country Store has some in stock, presumably Peerless, so get’em while you can ’cause you may NEVER see them again. No black walnut candy of any kind!!!!
November 30th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
i saw several kinds i love but the black walnut chips are my favorite
December 6th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
This is heartbreaking. This was the only company who made honeycombed filled peanut candies. We have been eating these during the holiday since I was a child. I has been getting harder each year to find these and now they are gone.
Sorry to see they had to shut down.
December 23rd, 2007 at 9:59 pm
I’m so sad about this too. I was looking all over for those honeycombed hard peanut candies with the peanut butter filling….and then I came upon this news… Now, we will never have those again and it is such a bummer. It’s so sad that this would happen, and now the younger generations will never know the candies we grew up with. I wish I could have found better news at the end of my search for the peanuts.
God bless you…
January 24th, 2008 at 4:15 am
I believe they were the only producer of the peanut butter filled peanut shaped hard candy. It is a shame. Now that my kids are old enough I had them all excited to try the candy I grew up with… what a dissapointment.
May 16th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
does anyone remember Mr. Kayloris, one of the first superintendents of Peerless Candy? His son, Johnny, was my dad’s best friend growing up in Chicago in the 1920’s. My dad is now 86 years old and still talks about how delicious the candy was.