Whitman's Chocolate Sampler 100 Years Old in 2012~ Yes, 2012

To increase chocolate sales during the hot summer months, Whitman's teamed up with GE to develop the first refrigerated display case.  In 1946, more than 9,000 Whitman's refrigerated display were shipped to dealers across the country.  Our Father's store, "Buddy's Spa" was the recipient of one of these cases.  As a child, I can remember organizing the candy and cleaning the case.  I wish we still had this gem of a piece. Well, this is perhaps one of the only relics from the past we don't possess. 

Stephen Whitman began making chocolates in 1842.  Before America witnessed the Civil War, the first bottle of Coca-Cola, the first professional baseball league or even the birth of Milton Hershey, this young man from Pennsylvania was making chocolate!  The sampler was only meant to last a year! Today a Sampler is sold every 2-1/2 seconds! 

This 100th anniversary box of Whitman's Sampler was just  opened at our house. 

During World War II, hand-written notes of encouragement from the ladies on Whitman's production lines were packed into millions of Sampler boxes and shipped to servicemen overseas.    Many of these letters resulted in long term friendships and even a few marriages.  After 9/11 terrorist attacks, the tradition continued.  Sampler boxes containing hand-written notes were delivered to American troops headed to the Middle East.

 

Yes we just opened it  after the holidays and in time for Valentine's Day! All of the information here was taken from the brochure enclosed in the box of 100th Anniversary Whitman's Chocolates.