HOW SWEET IT IS

PHOTOS COURTESY OF IDAHO CANDY COMPANY

Idaho Candy Company—a Boise favorite for more than a century

By Sabina Dana Plasse

Many of us may have walked by 412 South 8th Street in Boise, noticed the Idaho Candy Co. Home of Owyhee Chocolates sign, and perhaps not thought much about it. However, behind this building’s façade is a candy manufacturer dating back to 1901. Established by T.O. Smith, the Idaho Candy Company has created candy and supplied “the sweet tooths in Idaho” from its 23,000 square foot space for more than a century. Although considered one of the most modern facilities of its time, it has been updated many times since.

In 1969, Don Wakeman purchased the company, which produced over 50 different candy bars over the years and an assortment of boxed chocolates, including the Chicken Dinner Bar, Brazil Cremes, Mint Patty, Big Chief, Quarter Section, Fox Trot, and many others. In 1984, John and Mary Wagers purchased the company, and today, this Idaho chocolatier and candy family business is overseen by their son Dave, who is president.

“Our family has owned the business for 40 years,” said Dave Wagers. “I love working at Idaho Candy Company because who doesn’t want to be the candy man? It’s so much fun to tell people you own a candy company. It puts a sparkle in their eyes.”

More than a hundred years later, the Idaho Spud Bar (1918) candy bars are still produced, as are the Old Faithful Bar (1925), Cherry Cocktail (1926), and many others. More recently, the Huckleberry Gems (2012) have added to the sweet goodness. In addition, the company produces three varieties of Owyhee Butter Toffee (1925)—original chunk style, bite-sized, and chocolate-covered.

“We do build the business around the Idaho Spud Bar, with boxes specifically designed for shipping,” said Dave. “It’s a weird, quirky candy of chocolate, coconut and marshmallow you cannot get anywhere else, so people remember it. They used to be gold foilwrapped and bigger to look like baked potatoes, and even in 1919, potatoes were a big deal.”

I love Idaho Candy Company because who doesn’t want to be the candy man? It’s so much fun to tell people you own a candy company. It puts a sparkle in their eyes.

“Fewer small regional candy companies like ours are still in existence and family-owned, so we must work to remain relevant,” Dave added. “Today, we have a Vandal Bar for the University of Idaho. This fall, we introduced Bronco Bites for Boise State University, and we have orange and blue peanuts, growing our business in the collegiate world. I enjoy giving back and connecting to the community.”

From a stagecoach stop at Robie Creek near Idaho City, which had an ice bin on top of the display to keep the chocolate cold, to selling to customers worldwide, the Idaho Candy Company keeps the Willie Wonka dream alive, and Dave continues to learn how to keep the machinery functioning. “In 1919, the Idaho Spud was sold as a health bar and included a seaweed ingredient from Japan or Morocco, which was amazing to have been able to source that back then and was considered the ‘Power Bar’ of the day,” chuckled Dave. “We sell peanut brittle nationwide and ship it by the truckload to the East Coast. Our family feels we are stewards of Idaho Candy for Idaho, as you can’t get this candy elsewhere, and it makes Idaho the place we love.”

Idaho Candy Company sells to retail customers on-site, online, direct to businesses, and to distributors in 12 states.