CANDY WRAPPER

Object numberHF.2022.1.2.8

DescriptionA soft paper box for toffee with a red background and information printed in white. A section of red and white plaid pattern is present on both the front and back. The product information on the front is in English and is in French on the reverse.
Narrative

This toffee wrapper was discovered along with a collection of other candy wrappers during renovations at a former Lebanese grocery store on the corner of Pownal and Richmond Streets in Charlottetown. The owners were still in contact with the daughters of Saied and Esma Kays, the owners of the grocers. When the daughters saw the pile of candy wrappers, they shared how when they used to help their parents in the store, they would partake in some candy tasting and then hide the wrappers in an opening underneath the countertop to avoid being caught.

Mackintosh's toffee was created by Violet Mackintosh in 1890. Violet and her husband, John, opened a pastry shop in Halifax, England, shortly after their marriage. Violet ran the shop and used her skills to prepare sweet treats, all made fresh each day. Recognizing that most of their business came from the local workers on Saturday afternoon, Violet developed a product that could last the workers all week. Violet combined recipes from the brittle traditional English butterscotch and the new soft caramel from the USA, creating the softer, chewy "Mackintosh's Celebrated Toffee". It was a runaway success and the Mackintosh name became synonymous with this delicious confectionary.

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