Before there was Hershey, before there was Lindt, before Belgium got all the credit for being the world’s chocolate capital, there was Ganong. And if you don’t know that name, you’ve clearly never taken the sweet, scenic drive to St. Stephen, New Brunswick—the self-proclaimed Chocolate Town that’s been cranking out confections since the 19th century.
Historic, Indulgent, Iconic
Founded in 1873 by James and Gilbert Ganong, Ganong Bros. Ltd. isn’t just Canada’s oldest chocolate company—it’s a living, breathing love letter to an era when candy was crafted, not mass-produced. The brand has survived fires, wars, and even the Great Depression, yet it remains a staple in Atlantic Canada, still making chocolates in the same town where it all began.
The Art of the Hand-Dipped Chocolate
Picture this: It’s Feb. 28, 1889, and Gilbert W. Ganong is standing over a tray of freshly dipped chocolates. He has a dilemma—how can customers tell they’re getting the real deal and not some knockoff confection? His solution? Patent a process for imprinting the bottom of each chocolate with a wordmark. From that moment on, every hand-dipped chocolate bore the initials “GB”—a tiny, elegant guarantee of quality and craftsmanship.
This was just one of many innovations to come out of the Ganong factory. They were the first in North America to produce heart-shaped chocolate boxes (Valentine’s Day romantics, you’re welcome) and introduced the now-iconic Chicken Bones—a cinnamon-flavoured hard candy filled with bittersweet chocolate that remains a holiday must-have in Maritime households.
A Chocolate Legacy That Won’t Melt Away
Despite its deep roots in tradition, Ganong hasn’t shied away from modernity. The company has expanded its product line to include everything from boxed assortments to chocolate-covered nuts and caramels, but the old-world craftsmanship remains at its core. Today, the company operates a chocolate museum in St. Stephen, where visitors can gawk at vintage candy-making equipment, learn about the brand’s history, and, most importantly, sample the goods.
Ganong is more than a chocolate company—it’s a testament to small-town ingenuity and the kind of brand loyalty that only comes from 150 years of sweet success. So next time you find yourself in New Brunswick, do yourself a favour: skip the big-box store candy aisle, take a trip to St. Stephen, and get a taste of history—one GB-stamped chocolate at a time.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: St. Stephen: Small Town, Big Heart, Best Move
