Startup's Candy Company, Provo, UT
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Startup's Candy Co.
534 S 100 W Provo, UT 84601 (801) 373-8673 StartupCandy@gmail.com RETAIL STORE HOURS: Monday - Thursday 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM William Startup began his candy business in the 1830's in Manchester England in the basement of his store. William had developed a delicious hard candy as a medicine and he named it "American Cough Candy." He wanted to come to America but his dream never materialized as he died before he could make it. . |
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Move to Utah
His son, William Daw Startup, joined the L.D.S. Church in Birmingham, England and moved to America. Upon leaving England, he carefully packed his father's candy tools including scales, iron edge bars, a drop machine, shears, hooks, and recipes. When he arrived in America, he stopped in Philadelphia and purchased candy molds Utah's dry climate proved ideal for candy making. William opened a store near the Salt Lake Theater where he sold his confections. During the LDS Conferences he opened a refreshment stand near Temple Square and sold sandwiches along with his candy. In 1984, the Startup family moved to Provo to set-up a candy store at 230 W. Center St near the Brigham Young Academy. Four years after opening a blossoming new business, William tried to lift a large sandstone slab used for cooling candy and ruptured a blood vessel in his stomach. Three days later he died. |
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Startup's New Candy Creations
In 1894, his sons had become young men and organized the Startup Candy Company. They built their first factory at 69 South 300 West in Provo. In 1895, they developed the very FIRST candy bar in America with a 3-level filling called the "Opera Bar." They sold for 10 cents and even became popular in other countries. Soon after the Opera Bar was created, The Startup Candy Co. developed the "Magnolias." They were tiny liquid-centered perfume candies packaged in small boxes. They became the forerunner of the modern breath mint. Coca Cola made its debut during these years and the Startups became an early distributor. They even used it in some of the confections. |
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Surviving the Great Depression
By 1898, Startup's factory was crowded with nearly 20 employees. Demand dictated building a larger factory in Provo at 534 South 100 West, where the company is now located. By 1920, the Startups employed 15 Salesmen and 175 factory workers. They still used the molds purchased in Philadelphia. The unfortunate stock market crash in 1929 and the ensuing Great Depression meant that much of the U.S. population could barely buy food let alone candy. The Startups struggled for years before finally selling the factory buildings. Later, they were able to accumulate sufficient funds to purchase back the northern half of the factory complex where they still are located today. Now in its fifth generation, Jon and his wife Stacey, carry on the family tradition of cany making. |
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