Kerr's - A sweet part of Etobicoke's history
If you’ve ever sat in traffic on Islington Avenue between The Queensway and Jutland Avenue, or taken a slower-paced walk, you may have noticed a sweet piece of Etobicoke’s history on the western side of the street. Many cars simply drive by and don’t notice the Kerr’s Candy Factory at 956 Islington Avenue. Here, set back from the street, is one of Canada’s most famous candymakers, whose history dates back as far as 1895.
The story of the sweet crinkle-wrapped goodies Canadians love began in St. Thomas, Ontario. It was here that the more than 125-year history of Kerr’s Candy began with Edward and Albert Kerr, two Scottish immigrants who opened a candy store and bakery in 1895 to great success. The original St Thomas store had only been open for a few years when the company moved to Brantford in 1898 and expanded their operations significantly, opening 6 separate candy plants.
The story of the sweet crinkle-wrapped goodies Canadians love began in St. Thomas, Ontario. It was here that the more than 125-year history of Kerr’s Candy began with Edward and Albert Kerr, two Scottish immigrants who opened a candy store and bakery in 1895 to great success. The original St Thomas store had only been open for a few years when the company moved to Brantford in 1898 and expanded their operations significantly, opening 6 separate candy plants.
Kerr Brothers c. 1920 to 1930
In 1904 the company moved to Toronto and began making chocolate confectionaries and introduced some of the many famous wrapped candies we know today. The earliest Toronto address was at 54 Wolseley Street, and it is believed they operated at this location between 1904 and 1935. One of the most important early Kerr’s Products was the Butterscotch Bar, developed at this location. At one point this early version of the modern-day chocolate bar was one of the best-selling confectionary products in North America.
It proved to be so popular that the company eventually built “Kerr’s Butterscotch Inc.” factories in New Jersey between 1907 and 1957, exclusively to satisfy the US market’s appetite for Butterscotch Bars. During WWI, Butterscotch bars were even sent overseas as part of the war effort to motivate the troops. As a result, shortly after the war ended, annual sales for this product had reached 10 million units.
The company was on the move again in 1936 when it produced candy at 100 Industry St. in Toronto, across the street from the old Kodak factory. The focus during this time was still chocolate confections, with products like Scotch Whip, Mint Patties, the Chocolate Crisp Bar, and the Chocolate Toffee Nut Bar launching in the early 1940s.
However, in 1952 the company made its final move into the growing suburban enclave of Etobicoke, with a brand-new custom-built facility located at 30 Zorra Street. Situated between The Queensway and the Queen Elizabeth Way, today referred to as The Gardiner Expressway, the new facility provided easy truck access to the new highway network encircling the growing City of Toronto. Around this time the product line shifted to focus more on sugar confectionary items. It was here that another Canadian favourite was invented and first produced, Edinburgh Toffee. A staple at candy stores and grocery checkout lines throughout the 50s, 60s, and 70s, these chewy bars of sweet toffee were a major product manufactured at the factory on Islington Avenue.
It proved to be so popular that the company eventually built “Kerr’s Butterscotch Inc.” factories in New Jersey between 1907 and 1957, exclusively to satisfy the US market’s appetite for Butterscotch Bars. During WWI, Butterscotch bars were even sent overseas as part of the war effort to motivate the troops. As a result, shortly after the war ended, annual sales for this product had reached 10 million units.
The company was on the move again in 1936 when it produced candy at 100 Industry St. in Toronto, across the street from the old Kodak factory. The focus during this time was still chocolate confections, with products like Scotch Whip, Mint Patties, the Chocolate Crisp Bar, and the Chocolate Toffee Nut Bar launching in the early 1940s.
However, in 1952 the company made its final move into the growing suburban enclave of Etobicoke, with a brand-new custom-built facility located at 30 Zorra Street. Situated between The Queensway and the Queen Elizabeth Way, today referred to as The Gardiner Expressway, the new facility provided easy truck access to the new highway network encircling the growing City of Toronto. Around this time the product line shifted to focus more on sugar confectionary items. It was here that another Canadian favourite was invented and first produced, Edinburgh Toffee. A staple at candy stores and grocery checkout lines throughout the 50s, 60s, and 70s, these chewy bars of sweet toffee were a major product manufactured at the factory on Islington Avenue.
The Kerr’s Halloween Molasses Kiss was first introduced during World War II.
|
The first example of packaging for Kerr’s famous Edinburgh Toffee, which was developed at the new Etobicoke candy factory in the 1950s.
|
In addition to Edinburgh Toffee, the company had become famous for several penny treats which tempted sweet tooths across Canada. Kerr’s Lollipops were certainly one of these highly successful sweet treats. Believed to have first been introduced before 1937, these sweet sugary balls on a stick came in a variety of flavours. Starting in the 1950s, large Kerr’s branded bins could be found at supermarkets, corner stores, and gas stations filled to the rim with a variety of different Lollipops. In the 1950s, a single Lollipop could run you 10 cents. However, clever marketing made it easy for a mother or father to pick up 3 for 25 cents – a bargain to keep the children quiet while waiting in line at the local Dominion store.
Bins of Kerr’s Lollipops line the checkouts of one of Canada’s newest shopping experiences of the 1950s – the modern “supermarket” (1958)
In 1960, Kerr’s officially started to focus more on sugar confectionary, eliminating its chocolate products. The success of Lollipops and Toffee was a major contributor in this change of focus. The company knew its audience and had several innovative ways for marketing their products over the years. One popular way to get their sweets into the hands of locals and visitors was through an exhibit at the annual Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), something they did most years between 1932 and 1961.
Enjoying some famous Kerr’s Butterscotch at the CNE, 1961.
In 1970, Kerr’s modernized their factory, moving the bagging of products by hand to an automated filling operation. That same decade, the current 956 Islington Avenue location was built to be used as a separate warehouse from the nearby factory further south at 30 Zorra Street. In 1982, the front office we see today was added to the location on Islington Avenue and in 1983, the factory officially moved to this location.
Many candy “firsts” were launched from the Etobicoke Factories, including its first “No Sugar Added” calorie reduced products in 1980. This was very new at the time and Kerr’s was the first producer of “No Sugar Added” confectionary products in Canada. In 1985, Kerr’s further expanded its manufacturing site to include a “Crunches” machine. This allowed Kerr’s to start producing products like Chocolate Mints, and the iconic Strawberry Bonbons. These crinkly foil candies would go on to become a major success for the company and something many Canadians still remember enjoying on a visit to their grandparents or during family holiday gatherings.
Of course, one of the most controversial sweets by Kerr’s is the Halloween Molasses Kisses, a staple for Canadians for more than 80 years. This candy is uniquely Canadian and from coast to coast it has both fans and foes. Referred to by Kerr’s as "traditional Halloween taffy," the candies contain 10% real molasses which give them their unique flavour. This unique type of Taffy originates from Scotland, where the confectioner Stewart and Young made them in Glasgow under the “Steamship” brand in the late 1800s. With sugar and other supplies running low due to rationing, Kerr’s began manufacturing and distributing their version of molasses candy during World War II. After the war, it eventually became a Halloween staple across Canada, with the iconic orange Halloween wrapping having changed very little over the past several decades. Love them or hate them, they are certainly a part of every Canadian childhood.
Sadly, July of 2021 saw the end of Kerr’s being a part of Etobicoke. The company moved to a new facility in Oakville with the plant on Islington Avenue being used to expand the facilities at Holy Angels Catholic School next door. While the plant may be gone and its legacy of making sweet treats for the world in Etobicoke has come to an end, its exit will mean more public space for education in The Queensway area. A sweet ending after all.
Researched and Written by James Geneau
Many candy “firsts” were launched from the Etobicoke Factories, including its first “No Sugar Added” calorie reduced products in 1980. This was very new at the time and Kerr’s was the first producer of “No Sugar Added” confectionary products in Canada. In 1985, Kerr’s further expanded its manufacturing site to include a “Crunches” machine. This allowed Kerr’s to start producing products like Chocolate Mints, and the iconic Strawberry Bonbons. These crinkly foil candies would go on to become a major success for the company and something many Canadians still remember enjoying on a visit to their grandparents or during family holiday gatherings.
Of course, one of the most controversial sweets by Kerr’s is the Halloween Molasses Kisses, a staple for Canadians for more than 80 years. This candy is uniquely Canadian and from coast to coast it has both fans and foes. Referred to by Kerr’s as "traditional Halloween taffy," the candies contain 10% real molasses which give them their unique flavour. This unique type of Taffy originates from Scotland, where the confectioner Stewart and Young made them in Glasgow under the “Steamship” brand in the late 1800s. With sugar and other supplies running low due to rationing, Kerr’s began manufacturing and distributing their version of molasses candy during World War II. After the war, it eventually became a Halloween staple across Canada, with the iconic orange Halloween wrapping having changed very little over the past several decades. Love them or hate them, they are certainly a part of every Canadian childhood.
Sadly, July of 2021 saw the end of Kerr’s being a part of Etobicoke. The company moved to a new facility in Oakville with the plant on Islington Avenue being used to expand the facilities at Holy Angels Catholic School next door. While the plant may be gone and its legacy of making sweet treats for the world in Etobicoke has come to an end, its exit will mean more public space for education in The Queensway area. A sweet ending after all.
Researched and Written by James Geneau