Before Willy Wonka ever opened his chocolate factory, candy was already “dandy” at See’s Candy Shops Inc., known to all simply as See’s Candies.
The legacy confectioner, nominated by Yelp and USA Today as one of the “Most Loved Brands” and “America’s Best Stores” in 2025, celebrates its 104th year in California. Chief Executive Pat Egan noted “joy” as a keyword for the business.
“From the beginning, See’s has been about more than candy,” Egan said. “Our job is to actually make people happy.”
And happy they were. Starting off as a family-owned business on Western Avenue by Canadian chocolatier Charles See in 1921, the candy shop was so popular that he opened a dozen more branches in Los Angeles by 1925 and started to deliver candies on a customized Harley motorcycle in 1928.
Some of the original recipes from Charles See’s mother Mary See – including Victoria Toffee, Chocolate Walnut Fudge and Peanut Brittle – are still sold at its 275 locations across 19 states and territories.
“We like to say there’s always a reason for See’s, and it’s true,” Egan said. “See’s is part of our customer’s lives in the shape of birthdays, holidays, thank-yous… all the moments big and small.”
Growing with L.A.
The candy shop had quickly blended itself into the everyday fabrics of L.A., then a fast-growing city that just saw the opening of Hollywood Bowl and the creation of the Hollywood sign. “I Love Lucy” stars Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance, for example, spent a day at a See’s kitchen to prepare for the “Job Switching” episode on the popular 1950s sitcom.
“In Los Angeles especially, See’s has been part of family traditions for generations, going all the way back to our first shop on Western Avenue,” Egan said. “People often tell us they remember coming in as kids and now, they bring their own children or grandchildren. When new people move to town, we see neighbors introducing their new friends to the brand and the experience of coming into a See’s shop.”
The sweets also attracted famous patrons like Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton. Billionaire Warren Buffett bought the company for $25 million in 1972 – three times its book value – after first tasting its candies a year before and calling the candy shop a “dream business.”
The famous investor made a tradition to have See’s Candies at the annual shareholders meeting for Berkshire Hathaway Inc., his investment firm and the parent company for See’s Candies, preferring the Peanut Brittle over all others, according to the Swedish research platform Quartr AB.
The candymaker continued to grow. Quartr pointed out that the confectioner’s pre-tax annual earnings increased more than $8 million in the first decade under Berkshire. In the 2007 annual report, Buffett said that the total pre-tax earnings had reached $1.35 billion, describing the confectioner’s financial growth as “immodest” compared to its physical expansion. Its annual revenue totaled more than $410 million in 2023, reported Abu Dhabi-based XPlor Investments, who is the exclusive licensee for the confectioner in the Middle East.
“The vibe of the team is ‘joy.’ In fact, our mission is: ‘We Bring Joy…One Bite At A Time,’” said Egan. “We’re proud of that mission, so to continue to be growing and adding customers after 100 years of doing it with smiles feels good.”
Coming up in January, the candymaker is releasing a new product – the Milk Scotchmallow, which is a twist on a popular classic, Egan added.
“It took us a while, but this addition to our signature Scotchmallow line-up is a truly delicious way to give fans a new favorite,” he said. “I see us continuing to grow and expand our footprint to introduce new lovers of our brand.”
