Startup Candy Company

The Startup Candy Factory was named after William Startup, the man who founded the store. Startup Candy Company was one of the first candy factories in the state. In 1896 the first candy bar in the United States, the opera bar, was sold for ten cents from this factory, as well as being the first to produce and sell ice cream. This store helped Utah produce more candy than the rest of the intermountain states combined. Along with their other amazing first time notions, the Startup Candy Factory was the first factory in the state to give employees a share of the profit they made. When the depression hit and economic difficulties ensued, Walter Startup purchased his brothers’ interests, but soon lost them to the bank. Eventually additional funds were procured, and Walter was able to buy back the northern half of the factory, where the company continued to operate.