Sugar Daddy Candy (History, Pictures & Commercials) - Snack History (2024)

Sugar Daddy candy has been really popular for many years. This is a simple candy that you can enjoy no matter what age you are, and this simple little sweet has been a big hit for many generations.

If you want to enjoy a sugary treat, this is always a great choice. You can’t go wrong with a Sugar Daddy candy treat! There was once even a Sugar Mama candy which meant that the Sugar Daddy candy was part of a full family of candies! It was even suggested heavily in ads that Sugar Babies were the result of a marriage between the two “adult” bars.

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Sugar Daddy candy occupies a very special place in the hearts of those that love it. There is no shortage of good things to say about this candy and being able to enjoy a caramel treat with ease is rare these days. Sugar Daddy candy is a classic candy that most people will never stop loving!

Sugar Daddy Candy (History, Pictures & Commercials) - Snack History (1)

History

Sugar Daddy candy is a simple candy that is a block of caramel on a stick. The James O Welch company that first made the Sugar Daddy candy was bought out by Nabisco in 1963. The Welch companies were then sold to Warner-Lambert, and then Tootsie Roll bought them in 1993. All of this switching around early on could have made Sugar Daddy candies fall off the map, but Tootsie Roll knows how to market something like this candy with ease. Their entire lineup of candies is basic and a bit tame but beloved all the same. After all, it doesn’t get any simpler than a Tootsie Roll!

Nowadays, this candy is made in two sizes. There is a Junior Pop which is 53 kcal, and a Large Pop which is 200 kcal. There are also some special candies that are sold on Valentine’s Day and at Christmas. There are also giant-size bars that are 964 kcal and even a one-pound bar that comes in at 1928 kcal! Most people are only aware of the classic “Large Pop” size as it is the most commonly sold. Many people are not even aware that there are Sugar Babies candy on the market either!

This candy was first sold under the name Papa Sucker by Robert Welch in 1925. This was a new caramel sucker, and the reason for the name was that the large sucker was supposed to be the Papa of the family. When Sugar Daddy became a popular slang term, the name was changed. In 1976, there were ads that listed Sugar Daddy alongside Sugar Mama. This was a female version of the bar that was sold in 1965. Sugar Baby came onto the scene in 1935. Sugar Mamas were discontinued in the 80s. Sugar Babies are still sold today.

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Sugar Daddy Candy (History, Pictures & Commercials) - Snack History (2)

One of the original ads for Sugar Daddy candy was connected with the Bobby Riggs tennis match. These Sugar Daddies were quite large and were sold at one pound apiece. This was part of the tennis match that was named “Battle of the Sexes.” This took place in 1973, and it was the first time that this candy had been discussed and advertised in such a public way.

This ad campaign and the efforts to make a full family of these sugar candies made these little caramels really popular. This was the first time that a candy this simple had been popular in a long time. The fact that so many candies and popular culture references were using this term made the new name of the candies topical.

Fleetwood Mac, the Jackson 5, and the Bellamy Brothers all referenced this term in songs. This sort of connection made the candy a well-known one with ease. This was also technically the largest lollipop of its time, which made it popular for an entirely different reason. This connection with pop culture and the increasing size of candy bars made Sugar Daddy candy a standard choice for kids of all ages. The fact that it did not melt in the summer was also a big help to kids going on adventures and wanting to bring their candy bars with them to school in their lunchboxes.

This candy is still made in much the same way as it was in the beginning. The candy is hard enough to suck on like a lollipop, but it does get soft, and you can chew on it readily as well. This is part of what makes this lollipop really unique. You will not be able to chew on many other lollipops like this, and you will want to try this candy out if that interests you!

Sugar Babies

These little offshoots of the Sugar Daddy candy family are still sold today. These little Jelly Bean sized candies are still caramels, and they taste a lot like full-size lollipops. If you love Jelly Beans, but you also love caramel, these are the right candies for you.

These little candies were sold for the first time in 1935. When the various sales of this candy family took place, Sugar Babies survived, and Sugar Mamma bars did not. Some people still swear by Sugar Babies compared to the lollipops. The Welch family launched many amazing candies that are still around today. Sugar Babies and Sugar Daddy are among these candies.

Logo

Sugar Daddy Candy (History, Pictures & Commercials) - Snack History (3)

Buy Candy

You can also buy Sugar Daddy Candy at Old Time Candy by clicking the image below.

Sugar Daddy Candy (History, Pictures & Commercials) - Snack History (4)

Ingredients

This is a very simple candy when compared to complex candy bars that have many layers.

  • Corn Syrup
  • Sugar
  • Palm Oil
  • Dry Whole Milk
  • Whey
  • Natural and Artificial Flavors
  • Soy Lecithin

The allergy warnings for this candy are milk and soy ingredients. There is also a warning for US bioengineered foods.

Nutrition

Serving Size:1 pops (12.7g)% Daily Value*
Amount Per Serving
Calories from Fat 6
Calories 53.3
Total Fat 0.7g1%
Saturated Fat 0.2g1%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 18.3mg1%
Total Carbohydrates 11.3g4%
Dietary Fiber 0g0%
Sugars 7.7g
Protein 0.3g
Vitamin A0%
Vitamin C0%
Calcium0.7%
Iron0%
  • Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Livery

This is such a simple candy. It has almost always been advertised in the same way. The wrappers are wax wrappers, and they are twisted around the stick. The logo is red and is made with bubble letters that almost have a circus feel to them. The simple yellow wrappers are almost see-through, and they are quite easy to remove from the candies.

The wrappers also have a small confetti-like decoration at the bottom of the wrappers. Otherwise, the wrapper is very simple, and you will barely even notice the information that is on the candy. This is also a candy that is not the prettiest when you unwrap it. It is just a caramel brick with some ragged edges when the wrapper is removed.

There are a few classic candies that are also made like this. You will find that the appearance of the candy does not at all impact its flavor. This is just a simple candy that does not require a lot of fanfare to enjoy it. You will not have to worry about the flavor being any match to the appearance of the candy.

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The original candies were wrapped in yellow, but Sugar Mama candies were wrapped in red with yellow lettering. The lettering on the original candies was more block-like in shape. The bottoms of the candy wrappers were striped at the time. The Sugar Babies wrappers are the closest in design to the old wrappers.

These candies were marketed to kids, but they have been just as popular with adults. You will find that everyone of all ages loves these candies, and this has continued to be the case today. The reason for the demise of Sugar Mama is not clear. It is possible that the family aspect of the candies did not sell as a marketing plan.

The fact that the lollipops were essentially the same with different names and slightly different ingredients might have been the reason as well. The Sugar Mama was covered in chocolate, but the center of the chocolate was the same as the Sugar Daddy candy. This was also probably just not as popular a flavor combination since there were so many other candy bars that offered the same kind of combination at this time.

Caramel candies have not remained as popular as they once were. Sugar Daddies and a few classic candies have stood the test of time. Sugar Mamas were probably too much like a boring candy bar once there were things like Snickers Bars on the shelves of the supermarket and at the theater.

Many people are not that invested in simple candies anymore. There are so many complex and really intriguing candies out there that you would have to struggle to find something as simple as the Sugar Mama for sale. Having all these other, more variable options probably made sales on the Sugar Mama fall out of favor. Many people are not even aware that this candy even existed and it was clearly much overshadowed by the Sugar Babies and the Sugar Daddy candy.

Pictures

Sugar Daddy Candy (History, Pictures & Commercials) - Snack History (5)
Sugar Daddy Candy (History, Pictures & Commercials) - Snack History (6)

Commercials

A 1970s candy ad:

A much older ad:

A sugar babies and daddies ad:

A 90s ad:

Sugar Daddy Candy (History, Pictures & Commercials) - Snack History (7)

Brianna York

My name is Brianna and I love writing on all topics. Candy history fascinates me and I am passionate about sharing my love of this topic with everyone else!

Please leave a review or any memories of this snack in the comments below. Thank you!

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Sugar Daddy Candy (History, Pictures & Commercials) - Snack History (2024)

FAQs

What is the history of the Sugar Daddy candy? ›

Created in 1925, the portable caramel lollipop was originally called the Papa Sucker, later changing its name in 1932 to suggest “a wealth of sweetness”--hence, Sugar Daddy.

What happened to Sugar Daddy candy? ›

Welch Company was purchased by Nabisco (now Mondelēz International) in 1963. The Welch brands were sold to Warner-Lambert in 1988; Tootsie Roll Industries acquired them in 1993.

What happened to sugar momma candy? ›

A Sugar Mama was a chocolate-covered caramel sucker, essentially a Sugar Daddy covered in chocolate. It had a distinctive red and yellow wrapper, the opposite of Sugar Daddy's yellow and red wrapper. Sugar Mama production was discontinued during the 1980s.

What were Sugar Babies originally called? ›

Sugar Daddy and Sugar Babies: Robert Welch launched Sugar Daddy in 1926, first referring to it as "The Papa Sucker." (The name was changed in 1932.) On the success of Sugar Daddy, Sugar Babies came along in 1935, with the name coined after the song, "Let Me Be Your Sugar Baby." Today, they are made by Tootsie Roll.

What is the story behind Sugar Daddy? ›

The term "Sugar Daddy" has been used since the beginning of the 19th century, when Adolph Spreckels, heir to the Spreckel's sugar fortune, married a woman who was 24 years younger than him and called him "Sugar Daddy".

Why are they called Sugar Daddy? ›

Where does sugar daddy come from? There are two ingredients to sugar daddy. The first is sugar, slang for “money” and “expensive gifts” reaching back to the 19th century. The second is daddy, a colloquial term for a man of some age—and power—also found in the 19th century.

Why were chocolate babies discontinued? ›

By the late 80s early 90s, Chocolate Babies disappeared from candy shelves. Perhaps the candy was thought of as racist and not PC, and/or also made parents uncomfortable that the most popular way to eat these candies was to bite the heads off of the little babies.

Do sugar mommas still exist? ›

Yet there are sugar moms and babies who use dating apps and sites for mutually beneficial arrangements. Though it might be harder to find a sugar momma on a traditional relationship platform, let's explore the most popular dating apps and dating sites used for sugar dating.

How long do Sugar Daddy candies last? ›

Q: How long do the sugar daddys last could they last 5 years? A: A Giant Sugar Daddy has a shelf life of approximately 12 months.

What is the oldest candy in the world? ›

The first candy was used by the Ancient Egyptians for cult purposes. In ancient times, Egyptians, Arabs, and Chinese made candies with fruits and nuts that caramelized with honey. The two oldest candy types are licorice and ginger. The historical roots of licorice are found in the early years of man's appearance.

What's a male sugar baby called? ›

The gift recipient is called a sugar baby, and male sugar babies are referred to as gigolos. The providing partner is called a sugar daddy or sugar mommy.

Is a sugar baby legal? ›

We know it seems a bit shady, but rest assured, sugar dating is perfectly legal in the U.S. As long as you choose a reputable website and your sugar baby is 18 or older, you're in the clear.

What is the origin of sugar candy? ›

History. The oldest sugar candies are presumed to have been made where the sugar cane plant was domesticated. Sugar cane probably originated in Papua New Guinea, and from there was taken to Southeast Asia and other Pacific Islands, and ultimately to India and China.

What is the origin of the sugar baby? ›

They are a confection originally developed in 1935 for the James O. Welch Co. by Charles Vaughan (1901-1995), a veteran food chemist and one of the pioneers of pan chocolate, who invented both Junior Mints and Sugar Babies for the James O. Welch Company.

What is the Sugar Daddy stereotype? ›

It turns out being Sugar Daddy isn't a one-size-fits-all gig. While it occasionally lives up to the stereotype of a wealthy, middle-aged man lavishing gifts and money on a young woman in return for her companionship, there's more to it in the U.S.

Who is the origin of the Sugar Daddy in San Francisco? ›

After a five-year, secret relationship, Adolph Spreckels married de Bretteville. This may have made Spreckels the country's first sugar daddy. Today, tour guides in San Francisco explain to visitors that Alma used the term to describe Adolph, who inherited his father's sugar business.

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