Jawbreaker FACTS

Some fun facts about the origins this iconic sweet, the Jawbreaker! Invented in the early 1900’s by two brothers named Thomas and James Bowers. Their father was a candy maker who had been making jawbreakers since immigrating from Germany. Eventually, they opened up a shop under the name “Bowers Brothers”.

Unfortunately, Thomas died at a young age of 37, after contracting Spanish influenza. His brother James continued running the company until he passed away in 1952. James’ son then took over the company and renamed it “Thomas Bowers Inc.”. By this time success was nigh and by the 1960’s, the company was selling about $100 million worth of jawbreakers per year!

In 1969, Thomas Bowers Inc. merged with Hershey Co., creating what would become known today as Hershey Foods Corp. Hershey acquired the rights to the name “Jawbreaker”, but Thomas Bowers kept the trademark.

Today, Jawbreakers are still manufactured in the very same facility in Lancaster, Pennsylvania that Thomas Bowers built back in 1912. How cool!