Welcome to Helms Candy Website

Since it's founding in 1909, by G. Frank Helms, Sr., Helms Candy Company has been one of the World's leading producers of premium quality Pure Sugar Stick Candy. The tradition continues into the 21st century. While many changes have taken place in our industry, our community, and our world., we are proud to say that we still manufacture our products with the same care and quality ingredients that have made our products a favorite for generations. Our Virginia Beauty, Red Band, Homestead, and Helms Brand Sugar Stick Candies are still cooked in copper kettles, over an open fire, as they have been daily for over 96 years. We offer a wide variety of package sizes and delicious flavors. Unlike many candy products on the market today, all of our products are manufactured in the U.S.A. at our Bristol, Virginia factory.

Throughout most of the 20th century, the twin cities of Bristol Virginia and Bristol Tennessee were home to 9 different candy manufacturing companies, which we continue to benefit from. We employ master candy makers, all of whom have been with us for decades. Some are even second and third generation candy makers. They take great pride in producing not only great tasting candy but candy that is made in a way that every color, flavor, and shape is a work of confectionary art. This is why it has been a Helms Candy Co. mainstay that we present our candies to the customer in crisp white, red, and green window boxes allowing the customer to see the "Virginia Beauty" that clearly shows through.

1862 After having been discharged from the Confederate Army as a wounded soldier, 20 year old Jacob "KeKe" Helms opens a general store in the Town of Abingdon, VA., about 20 miles north of Bristol. The general store also served as the local barber shop and dentist office and all of these services were provided by Jacob himself. Jacob had a son named G. Frank Helms Sr. At that time, schools were based on an "Attend When You Can" agenda. Jacob's war injury caused him to require Frank's assistance quite often. Soon Frank quit attending school permanently and began working full time at the general store. Frank had worked for his father for many years when he decided to take on partners and eventually turned the modest little general store into the Bristol Grocery Company around 1900.

1909 The Bristol Grocery Co. was located on State Street in Bristol and was the largest grocery company at the time. As a sideline, and for a confectionery product for his grocery store, Frank started out by trying to make any type of candy that his customers would ask for. He made everything from chocolates to stick candy. Stick candy at that time was considered to be the "Working Man's" candy. Chocolate did not become available to the working class until Milton Hershey's chocolate bars were developed and marketed for all sizes of incomes. Frank soon realized that he could manufacture the stick candy on a cost effective basis and his customers liked it the best. He built another building behind the grocery store which became our first factory. Railway lines ran between the buildings to serve as a means of delivery for materials and groceries and as a means of shipping the candies. Both of these buildings still stand today. The general store also still stands today in the historic part of Abingdon and is in use as a retail store just as it has been for over 140 years. Like most companies at the turn of the century, Frank made his local deliveries of candy and groceries himself in horse-drawn buggies that were handed down from his father's general store. Frank had a partner in his ventures which named the original company Gibson-Helms Candy Co. They began to obtain more and more business and soon The Gibson-Helms Candy Co was in full operation. The partners eventually split up and went their separate ways. Gibson Candy Co. remained in business making competitive stick candy up until the sixties. Frank also remained in the candy business and changed the name of his part of the company to Jobber's Candy Co. and remained in the same building. The name "Jobber's" was derived from the fact that Frank went to the wholesalers he knew who were called jobbers at that time and sold stock to them to raise the money to get started in business. Before long, Frank had payed all of the jobbers back and owned the company free and clear.

1929 Jobber's Candy Company survived the depression and actually made a small profit during the nation's struggling economy.

1935 The original factory was growing too small to meet the demands for sugar stick candy. So, the factory in the photo below was purchased from the JC Layman Co. who manufactured soft drinks. It ran the length of an entire city block. We produced candy on the top floor, packaged it on the second floor and warehoused it on the first floor. There was also an underground basement for materials storage. Liquid Sugar and Syrup was brought in by railroad tanker cars. Jobber's Candy remained in this factory until 1976. During this time we produced over 15,000 pounds of stick candy everyday, running 3 shifts and employed as many as 150 people at one time. According to a survey by the State of Virginia, this made Jobber's Candy Company the largest producer of stick candy in the World at that time. Three trucks remained on the roads fully loaded at all times making deliveries to the surrounding states. The company has had several locations in it's lifetime although each one was always in Bristol, VA.We still own and maintain this factory as a storage warehouse.

1975 Jobber's Candy Co. purchased Hardesty Candy Company of Richmond VA from the C.F. Sauer Spice Companies. Included in the purchase was Hardesty's lollipop operation. Their trademark pop was King Pops. Jobber's moved the lollipop operation to it's Bristol factory.

1976 Jobber's Candy Co. purchased Loudy Candy Company, also of Bristol from Mr. Frank Loudy, and changed the name of the two companies to Helms Candy Co. Included in the purchase of Loudy Candy was the purchase of Loudy's medicated candy division. All of Loudy's employees stayed on and together with them we have manufactured over 50 major brands of throat lozenges for the leading drug companies of the World since the 1950's..

1980 Helms Candy purchased the medicated division of Charm's Candy Company. Along with this purchase came many new pharmaceutical customers.

1998 Helms Candy was approached by Whitehall Robins, owners of the Dimetapp brand, to manufacture the World's first mass produced medicated lollipops (Dimetapp Get Better Bear Sore Throat Pops). Helms Candy was the only company available with both a Drug Manufacturers license and lollipop machines.

2004 The Get Better Bear Trademark was acquired from Whitehall. In late 2004, the Bear Pops were out of hibernation and back on the shelves.

2005 We acquired the Red Band Candy brand of sugar stick candy products.

2005 Our new bagging operation opens offering 4 sizes of bags just in time for the coming cold season.

Today We are located in a modern specially built 45,000 sq. ft. facility that was acquired in the purchase of Loudy Candy Co. Helms Candy maintains several additional warehouses throughout Bristol. With new automation being developed everyday in the candy industry, we now only employ less than 20 employees. The company is now owned and operated by the fourth generation, pictured above, along with their spouses, left to right: Mark (Pharmaceutical Dept.), Deborah Smith (Accounting Dept.), and George F. "Buzz" Helms IV (Candy Dept.), each of whom oversee day to day operations of the company. George Helms, III and his wife Helen are pictured in the center.

The Future Our current facilty, which is located just off the interstate, has found itself directly in the middle of the fastest growing retail commercial activity of any other interstate exit in the State of Virginia. With the addition of the Red Band products and the steady growth that Helms Candy has enjoyed over the years, we are currently seeking to move yet again into a larger, more modern facility. Exact locations and dates are still unforseen. Plans, however, call for at least doubling or even tripling the square footage that we currently have. With the additional space, we will be able to re-introduce items that we have discontinued as well as add new ones. Our workforce will most certainly be increased as well. With our 100 year anniversary at hand, we are eager to embark on the next 100 years.

	Our 100 Year History Since it's founding in 1909, by G. Frank Helms, Sr., Helms Candy Company has been one of the World's leading producers of premium quality Pure Sugar Stick Candy. The tradition continues into the 21st century. While many changes have taken place in our industry, our community, and our world., we are proud to say that we still manufacture our products with the same care and quality ingredients that have made our products a favorite for generations. Our Virginia Beauty, Red Band, Homestead, and Helms Brand Sugar Stick Candies are still cooked in copper kettles, over an open fire, as they have been daily for over 96 years. We offer a wide variety of package sizes and delicious flavors. Unlike many candy products on the market today, all of our products are manufactured in the U.S.A. at our Bristol, Virginia factory. Throughout most of the 20th century, the twin cities of Bristol Virginia and Bristol Tennessee were home to 9 different candy manufacturing companies, which we continue to benefit from. We employ master candy makers, all of whom have been with us for decades. Some are even second and third generation candy makers. They take great pride in producing not only great tasting candy but candy that is made in a way that every color, flavor, and shape is a work of confectionary art. This is why it has been a Helms Candy Co. mainstay that we present our candies to the customer in crisp white, red, and green window boxes allowing the customer to see the "Virginia Beauty" that clearly shows through. 1862 After having been discharged from the Confederate Army as a wounded soldier, 20 year old Jacob "KeKe" Helms opens a general store in the Town of Abingdon, VA., about 20 miles north of Bristol. The general store also served as the local barber shop and dentist office and all of these services were provided by Jacob himself. Jacob had a son named G. Frank Helms Sr. At that time, schools were based on an "Attend When You Can" agenda. Jacob's war injury caused him to require Frank's assistance quite often. Soon Frank quit attending school permanently and began working full time at the general store. Frank had worked for his father for many years when he decided to take on partners and eventually turned the modest little general store into the Bristol Grocery Company around 1900. 1909 The Bristol Grocery Co. was located on State Street in Bristol and was the largest grocery company at the time. As a sideline, and for a confectionery product for his grocery store, Frank started out by trying to make any type of candy that his customers would ask for. He made everything from chocolates to stick candy. Stick candy at that time was considered to be the "Working Man's" candy. Chocolate did not become available to the working class until Milton Hershey's chocolate bars were developed and marketed for all sizes of incomes. Frank soon realized that he could manufacture the stick candy on a cost effective basis and his customers liked it the best. He built another building behind the grocery store which became our first factory. Railway lines ran between the buildings to serve as a means of delivery for materials and groceries and as a means of shipping the candies. Both of these buildings still stand today. The general store also still stands today in the historic part of Abingdon and is in use as a retail store just as it has been for over 140 years. Like most companies at the turn of the century, Frank made his local deliveries of candy and groceries himself in horse-drawn buggies that were handed down from his father's general store. Frank had a partner in his ventures which named the original company Gibson-Helms Candy Co. They began to obtain more and more business and soon The Gibson-Helms Candy Co was in full operation. The partners eventually split up and went their separate ways. Gibson Candy Co. remained in business making competitive stick candy up until the sixties. Frank also remained in the candy business and changed the name of his part of the company to Jobber's Candy Co. and remained in the same building. The name "Jobber's" was derived from the fact that Frank went to the wholesalers he knew who were called jobbers at that time and sold stock to them to raise the money to get started in business. Before long, Frank had payed all of the jobbers back and owned the company free and clear. 1929 Jobber's Candy Company survived the depression and actually made a small profit during the nation's struggling economy. 1935 The original factory was growing too small to meet the demands for sugar stick candy. So, the factory in the photo below was purchased from the JC Layman Co. who manufactured soft drinks. It ran the length of an entire city block. We produced candy on the top floor, packaged it on the second floor and warehoused it on the first floor. There was also an underground basement for materials storage. Liquid Sugar and Syrup was brought in by railroad tanker cars. Jobber's Candy remained in this factory until 1976. During this time we produced over 15,000 pounds of stick candy everyday, running 3 shifts and employed as many as 150 people at one time. According to a survey by the State of Virginia, this made Jobber's Candy Company the largest producer of stick candy in the World at that time. Three trucks remained on the roads fully loaded at all times making deliveries to the surrounding states. The company has had several locations in it's lifetime although each one was always in Bristol, VA.We still own and maintain this factory as a storage warehouse. 1975 Jobber's Candy Co. purchased Hardesty Candy Company of Richmond VA from the C.F. Sauer Spice Companies. Included in the purchase was Hardesty's lollipop operation. Their trademark pop was King Pops. Jobber's moved the lollipop operation to it's Bristol factory. 1976 Jobber's Candy Co. purchased Loudy Candy Company, also of Bristol from Mr. Frank Loudy, and changed the name of the two companies to Helms Candy Co. Included in the purchase of Loudy Candy was the purchase of Loudy's medicated candy division. All of Loudy's employees stayed on and together with them we have manufactured over 50 major brands of throat lozenges for the leading drug companies of the World since the 1950's.. 1980 Helms Candy purchased the medicated division of Charm's Candy Company. Along with this purchase came many new pharmaceutical customers. 1998 Helms Candy was approached by Whitehall Robins, owners of the Dimetapp brand, to manufacture the World's first mass produced medicated lollipops (Dimetapp Get Better Bear Sore Throat Pops). Helms Candy was the only company available with both a Drug Manufacturers license and lollipop machines. 2004 The Get Better Bear Trademark was acquired from Whitehall. In late 2004, the Bear Pops were out of hibernation and back on the shelves. 2005 We acquired the Red Band Candy brand of sugar stick candy products. 2005 Our new bagging operation opens offering 4 sizes of bags just in time for the coming cold season. Today We are located in a modern specially built 45,000 sq. ft. facility that was acquired in the purchase of Loudy Candy Co. Helms Candy maintains several additional warehouses throughout Bristol. With new automation being developed everyday in the candy industry, we now only employ less than 20 employees. The company is now owned and operated by the fourth generation, pictured above, along with their spouses, left to right: Mark (Pharmaceutical Dept.), Deborah Smith (Accounting Dept.), and George F. "Buzz" Helms IV (Candy Dept.), each of whom oversee day to day operations of the company. George Helms, III and his wife Helen are pictured in the center. The Future Our current facilty, which is located just off the interstate, has found itself directly in the middle of the fastest growing retail commercial activity of any other interstate exit in the State of Virginia. With the addition of the Red Band products and the steady growth that Helms Candy has enjoyed over the years, we are currently seeking to move yet again into a larger, more modern facility. Exact locations and dates are still unforseen. Plans, however, call for at least doubling or even tripling the square footage that we currently have. With the additional space, we will be able to re-introduce items that we have discontinued as well as add new ones. Our workforce will most certainly be increased as well. With our 100 year anniversary at hand, we are eager to embark on the next 100 years.



Candy Division








Pharmaceutical Division