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 The
first batch of nuts ever roasted by American Nut
& Chocolate was roasted on Tremont Street in Boston
in 1927. The business primarily catered to the retail
street vendors as well as the wholesale vending
trade where a small coin deposited into a glass-globed
vending machine yielded a handful of fresh delicious
nuts. These machines were found in many drug stores,
supermarkets, restaurants, and barber shops throughout
New England.
The company also sold nuts using the name "Harvard
Brand - the Educated Nut". The example to the
right, from our archives, shows the glassine bags
used to sell salted cashews.
 In
1946 American Nut & Chocolate began selling boxes
of candy called "Double Play". Each box
came with a 4 inch baseball mini pennant and a metal
pin for 5 cents. Completing the set became a goal
for many candy-lovers. Two sets were offered - a
Ballplayer Set of 22 and a Team Set of 16. These
pennants have became prized collectibles and are
still sold on EBay today.
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Remember
This?
American Nut & Chocolate
Pennants from 1950
 Player
Set included: Ewell Blackwell, Harry Brecheen,
Phil Cavarretta, Bobby Doerr, Bob Elliott,
Bob Ferris, Joe Gordon, Tommy Holmes, Charlie
Keller, Ken Keltner, Whitey Kurowski, Ralph
Kiner, Johnny Pesky, Pee Wee Reese, Phil Rizzuto,
Johnny Sain, Enos Slaughter, Warren Spahn,
Vern Stephens, Earl Torgeson, Dizzy Trout,
and Ted Williams
Information provided by: Key
Man Collectibles
This
site shows the original boxes and counter
display from 1950.
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The business grew and in the 1960's the company
moved to South Boston. There they began packing
candy cigarettes, Christmas stockings full of gift
items and collectible Beatles' pins.
As the industry changed, the company moved into
the wholesale food service arena while keeping its
retail presence. In 2007, after suffering major
flood damage, the business relocated to a new modern
facility at the Newmarket
Square Wholesale Food Terminal in Boston. American
Nut & Chocolate Co. continues to service the wholesale
food trade as well as retail customers throughout
the country.
In an ever changing world, one thing that hasn't
changed in over 70 years is American Nut & Chocolate's
commitment to continue to roast the old fashioned
way, in small batches, done by hand, using only
the highest quality nuts and seeds. We believe some
things are better left unchanged.
Taste them. We are sure
you will agree!
Few today realize that Boston was once the center
of candy production and distribution in America.
Most of the other old-time companies are gone today,
leaving only American Nut & Chocolate and a
handful of others.
"The first half of the twentieth century was Boston's
[candy-lover's] zenith. The city was home to 140
candy companies by 1950, with sales of $200 million
per year. The beginning of the end for Boston came
with the rise of the national candy conglomerates:
Hershey's and Mars." ~ From Candyfreak by
Steve Almond. (You might also enjoy reading the
same author's The
Kings of Candy about famous Boston Candy
Companies, including American Nut & Chocolate.
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