Hammond's Candies

Over the last 90 years, the "Mile High" city of Denver has seen a number of fine chocolate and candy manufacturers come and go, but the candy company founded by Carl T. Hammond Sr. in 1920 is one that is still very much in business.

Today, Hammond's Candies are still made the way Carl made them, with the same tempting recipes and craftsmanship. Hard candy is still hand-pulled, which gives Hammond's lollipops, candy canes, straws and pillows all their extra shine and brilliance. (For the full company history, read below.)

The Hammond's Candies Story

In 1920, Carl T. Hammond Sr. began Hammonds Candy Company after many years of working in the retail food business. He developed his first original recipe, the Honey Koko, and the business was off and roaring. 

Carl was the business. He developed the recipes, made the candy, sold the candy, and was his own office staff. Eventually, he hired someone to keep the store open, while he traveled around selling his candy wholesale to other stores.

The depression brought many changes, but Carl went right on selling candy, because even in those extremely trying times, people could find enough money to buy themselves and their children candy, but it had to be good candy.

Carl's motto was "Nothing is more important that quality" kept Hammond's modest factory on Platte River Street in Denver open and profitable.

In 1945, Carl's son, Carl (Tom) Hammond Jr. and his wife June entered into the family business, and three years later, Hammond's Candies moved to its second location in Denver. Tom continued in the business after his father passed away and the business continued to flourish under his direction.

Tom, June, their four sons and daughter all worked in the business at one time or another. Their daughter Robin, and her husband Emery Dorsey IV officially joined the business in 1983 and learned the art of candy making from Tom. When Tom passed away several years later, Emery took over the management of the candy factory.

With the help of his wife and mother-in-law, Emery was able to carry on the tradition of candy making for another 16 years. In 1999, June decided that she was done with the candy business and decided to put the factory up for sale.

With the sale of the company came huge growth. Hammond's outgrew two factories in five years and is now housed in a 35,000 square foot facility just north of Denver. Hammond's also opened the factory to the public, giving free tours Monday through Saturday, and added an annual Candy Cane Festival, which is still held the first Saturday of every December.